What is the Significance of the Washing of Feet on (Holy) Maundy Thursday?

Christ Washing the Apostles' Feet (1616) - Dirck Van Baburen

On Maundy (Lt. mandatum ‘commandment’) Thursday, 2013, Pope Francis laid aside his priestly garments, girded himself with a towel, and washed the feet of twelve offenders at a detention center in Rome. It surprises some to know that Jesus did the same but with the twelve apostles at a house before the day he was crucified (John 13: 4-17, RSVCE). There are many significant reasons for these actions.

1. The footwashing signified being part of the mystical body of Christ.

Jesus stated it clearly: "If I do not wash you, you have no part in me" (John 13:8). Raymond E. Brown emphasizes that it is a “sign of sharing in the heritage of Jesus, having something in common with the Lord.”[1]

2. The washing of feet represents charity for our neighbor.

Anne C. McGuire conveys this by stating, “Jesus' action of washing his disciples' feet is a gesture of love, or a gesture of hospitality and welcome [to any guest, to any friend, to any member of the community].”[2] Charity, in this case, is to be understood as willing the greatest good of another for God’s sake (CCC 1822).

3. The washing of feet represents humility.

First, Christ (God) humbled himself by washing the feet of the disciples - even those who would betray Him. The washing of feet was reserved for the lowest of servants because it included cleaning the odorous, sweaty, and otherwise filthy feet of travelers. Jesus conveys the idea that few people want to wash other's feet when he says, "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet" (Jn 13:14-16).

Second, humility is shown as Jesus removes "his garments" (Jn 13:4). To remove most of your garments when everyone else is dressed is a humiliating act. Are we not quick to cover ourselves when everyone else is fully dressed?

4. It foreshadows the crucifixion of Christ.

For the washing of feet, Christ "laid down" his garments (Jn 13:4). McGuire states that John exclusively uses the word for laying down, tithenai, to “refer to the laying down of one’s life (John 10:11, 15, 17, 18)."[3] Raymond Brown further supports this idea by saying, "In demeaning himself to washing his disciples' feet, Jesus is acting out beforehand His humiliation in death, even as Mary acted out beforehand the anointing of his body for burial (12:l-8)."[4]

 

Christ gives the mandatum, commandment:

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (Jn 13:34-35).

What else does the washing of feet signify? Let us know in the comments below.

References:

1 Raymond Brown, The Gospel According to John XIII-XXI: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary, The Anchor Bible (Garden City, New York: Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1978): vol. 2, 558.
2 Anne C. McGuire, Holy Week and the Paschal Mystery, Pastoral Focus, Liturgical Ministry Summer (2004): 124.
3 Ibid., 123
4 Brown, 562


Contributed by: Fidel Valenzuela

© Servants of the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts