This day, the Holy Thursday marks the beginning of the Easter
tridium. This liturgy takes three days, it ends on Paschal Vigil. This Mass where we commemorate the Lord’s Supper is marked by the sign of service and humility of Jesus washing the feet to his disciples.
"So during supper, fully aware that the Father had put
everything into his power and that he was coming from God and was returning to
God, he rose from supper and took off his outer garments. He took a towel and
tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash
their feet and drying them with a towel around his waist." (John 13:2-6, African
Bible) "If therefore a master can wash the feet of his servants then you ought
to wash one another’s feet" Jesus said.
Here is Br. Venancio telling us to go around with a basin of water and a towel to wash one another’s feet. I know you are wondering how possible that can be, if one does it we may say he is insane. What do Jesus and the word of Br. Venancio mean? The message is clear: be humble, be responsible for one another and love one another. Carrying a basin and towel is moving with humility in approaching others.
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| The washing of the feet during our Liturgy |
Here is Br. Venancio telling us to go around with a basin of water and a towel to wash one another’s feet. I know you are wondering how possible that can be, if one does it we may say he is insane. What do Jesus and the word of Br. Venancio mean? The message is clear: be humble, be responsible for one another and love one another. Carrying a basin and towel is moving with humility in approaching others.
But Peter first
refused, why? You who is reading, if your Parent say: “I want to wash your
feet,” Do you accept? Of course you may hesitate because you respect your
Parent and you feel that you are the one supposed to do it. And I see that is
why Peter says: “Lord you cannot wash my feet.” Jesus responds that Peter did
not understand what Jesus was doing and indeed Peter was not understand even if
it were me I would hesitate to accept. Peter later accepts wholesale by responding with: “not only my feet, but the whole
body.” Peter had understood and felt it more important to be cleaned the whole
body, but Jesus assures him of his cleanliness and needed little purification
which was instillation of humility. That was demonstrated in the reading of the
gospel in our chapel.
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| Sister being washed her feet |
As our Pope requested officially, there was also washing of
women’s feet on that day. Sisters Irene, Lilian and Youfresher were part of the
twelve people whose feet were washed. That is a sign that Jesus’ message of
being humble in this activity goes to everyone not men only.
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| Procession carrying the Blessed Sacrament |
Being the longest liturgy celebrated during the year, we
did not conclude with the dismissal and final blessing.
We had to transfer the Blessed Sacrament to the class for adoration. We adored
in turns, starting with the visitors then followed by the members of the community.
We keep in a spirit of recollection as we prepare ourselves to go through the liturgy of Good Friday and then the Paschal Vigil on Saturday night.
Happy Easter
AGABA JOHN