Foot washing on Maundy Thursday

Revd Liz Piki reflects on her experience of taking part in the footwashing ritual at the Maundy Thursday service.

"As we continue on our Lent journey; with Easter approaching, I have been reflecting on my experiences of foot washing on Maundy Thursday. Whilst I attended Maundy Thursday Church Services, on several occasions in the past, I had never participated in foot washing. I never put myself forward to have my feet washed perhaps because I considered this to be an intimate and personal task. My views changed when I had my first experience of foot washing on Maundy Thursday 2022, when I washed the feet of some members of our congregation, during my first year of curacy.

Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday is also known by various other names that include; Covenant Thursday; Thursday of Mysteries; Holy and Great Thursday; Sheer Thursday; Great and Holy Thursday. It is the Thursday before Easter and marks the festival in Holy Week that Christians commemorate the Last Supper, when Jesus washed the feet of his disciples as a sign of his humble service to all mankind. The washing of feet during Church Service on Maundy Thursday imitates Jesus’ act of love for his disciples on the night before he died. It is a ritual that symbolizes the Church’s participation in Jesus’s mission of love and service each other and to others in need in our world today

The story of Jesus washing his disciples' feet is recorded, in John 13:1-17, as having taken place during the Passover supper, before Christ’s arrest. During Jesus’ time, foot-washing was an expression of hospitality and was done by the ‘lowliest’ household servants. This, perhaps, explains Peter’s disconcertion to Jesus washing his feet; because it was a servant’s job. Peter did not want Jesus his ‘Master’ to wash his feet, and would have been concerned about the differential of power. However, Jesus insisted on washing the feet of all of his disciples to show that nobody is above serving their neighbour.

I think of foot washing as an act of humble service, and for the people whose feet I washed, it appeared to have taken on great meaning for them. They were appreciative of having participated in the ritual."

There is an open invitation for anyone to have their feet washed at this year's Maundy Thursday service as once again we remind ourselves of the commandment to love one another as Christ has loved us.