MARY, OUR MOTHER

SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #476

Before the festival day of the pasch, Jesus knowing that his hour was come, that he should pass out of this world to the Father: having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them unto the end. And when supper was done (the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray him), Knowing that the Father had given him all things into his hands and that he came from God and goeth to God, He riseth from supper and layeth aside his garments and, having taken a towel, girded himself. After that, he putteth water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. He cometh therefore to Simon Peter. And Peter saith to him: "Lord, dost thou wash my feet?" Jesus answered and said to him: "What I do, thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter." Peter saith to him: "Thou shalt never wash my feet," Jesus answered him: "If I wash thee not, thou shalt have no part with me." Simon Peter saith to him: "Lord, not only my feet, but also my hands and my head." Jesus saith to him: "He that is washed needeth not but to wash his feet, but is clean wholly. And you are clean, but not all." For he knew who he was that would betray him; therefore he said: "You are not all clean."
Then after he had washed their feet and taken his garments, being set down again, he said to them: "Know you what I have done to you? You call me Master and Lord. And you say well: for so I am. If then I being your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that as I have done to you, so you do also. Amen, amen, I say to you: The servant is not greater than his lord: neither is the apostle greater than he that sent him. If you know these things, you shall be blessed if you do them." (John 13:1-17)


THE OBJECT OF THE WASHING OF FEET: Firstly, our Lord wished to cleanse His disciples perfectly from sin, and prepare their souls for the reception of His Body and Blood, teaching us by this ceremony that we must wash our souls in the holy Sacrament of Penance before we receive Holy Communion. Secondly, our Lord desired by this washing of their feet to give to His apostles and to all Christians and example of humility and brotherly love. St. John (13:3) says that Jesus washed the disciples' feet "knowing that the Father had given Him all things into His hands, and that He came from God and goeth to God." It was, therefore, in the full consciousness of His divine power and majesty that our Lord laid aside His upper garment, girded Himself with a towel, poured water into the basin, knelt down on the ground before each of His apostles, and washed their feet, as if He had been their servant! What self-abasement! What love! Let us remember that He gave us this example that we too might be humble and serve one another.

[From 'A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture' by Bishop Knecht, D.D.]
(1899 Douay-Rheims Bible)