and as he had loved those who were his own in the world, he would love them with perfect
love. They were at supper, and the devil had already put into the mind of Judas, son of
Simon Iscariot, to betray him. Jesus knew that the Father had entrusted all things to him,
and as he had come from God, he was going to God. So he got up from the table, removed
his garment, and taking a towel, wrapped it around his waist. Then he poured water into a
basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel he was
wearing. When he came to Simon Peter, Simon asked him, “Why, Lord, do you want to wash
my feet?” Jesus said, “What I am doing you cannot understand now, but afterwards you will
understand it.” Peter replied, “You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do
not wash you, you can have no part with me.” Then Simon Peter said, “Lord, wash not only
my feet, but also my hands and my head!” Jesus replied, “Whoever has taken a bath does
not need to wash (except the feet), for he is clean all over. You are clean, though not all of
you.” Jesus knew who was to betray him; because of this he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
When Jesus had finished washing their feet, he put on his garment again, went back to the
table, and said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Master
and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I, then, your Lord and Master, have washed your
feet, you also must wash one another’s feet. I have given you an example, that as I have
done, you also may do.

Reflect

“Love-mandate.” Today is Holy Thursday, also known as Maundy Thursday. Maundy comes
from the Latin word mandatum which means “commandment.” Today, we ponder on Jesus’
new commandment which is lovemandate. As Christians, we are mandated that we love
one another as Jesus has loved us. And now, we are reminded of Jesus' words when he
said that there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for others (cf. Jn. 15:13). Hence,
Jesus has set an example not merely to dramatize the event of the feetwashing but to
truly live up to the challenge of laying down our lives for one another. The putting off and
putting on of Jesus’ garment also symbolizes the giving up and taking up of Jesus’ life. No
one can take Jesus’ life away from him but he can give it up. It is a decision. As we enter the
Paschal Triduum, let us recommit ourselves to making decisions as our concrete responses
to Jesus’ mandate.

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