In the old days the Church or at least my church called today Maundy Thursday but I haven’t heard that in a long time. Anyway, it is an important day in the series of days that is the Passion of Christ. I thought that I would copy a section of the Gospel of John from my trusty translation, The Message by Eugene Peterson. It is chapter 13, verses 1-17.

Just before the Passover Feast, Jesus knew that the time had come to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his dear companions, he continued to love them right to the end. It was suppertime. The Devil by now had Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, firmly in his grip, all set for the betrayal.

Jesus knew that the Father put him in complete charge of everything, that he came from God and was on his way back to God. So he got up from the supper table, set aside his robe, and put on an apron. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, drying them with his apron. When he got to Simon Peter, Peter said, “Master, you wash my feet?”

Jesus answered, “You don’t understand what I am doing, but it will be clear enough to you later.”
Peter persisted, “You are not going to wash my feet ever – ever!”
Jesus said, “If I don’t wash you, you can’t be part of what I am doing.”
“Master!” said Peter. “Not only wash my feet then. Wash my hands! Wash my head!”
Jesus said, “If you had a bath in the morning, you only need your feet washed now and you will be clean from head to toe. My concern, you understand, is holiness not hygiene. So now you are clean. But not everyone of you. (He knew who was betraying him. That’s why he said, “Not everyone of you.”) After he had finished washing their feet, he took his robe, put it back on, and went back to his place at the table.
Then he said, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You address me as ‘Teacher’ and ‘Master,’ and rightly so. That is what I am. So if I, the Master and Teacher, washed your feet, you must now wash each other’s feet. I’ve laid down a pattern for you. What I have done, you do. I’m only pointing out the obvious. A servant is not ranked above his master, an employee doesn’t give orders to the employer. If you understand what I am telling you, act like it – and live a blessed life.

Maundy Thursday loves, Felipé.