April 1, 2010
Holy
Thursday Washing of Feet
St. Peter Cathedral
April 1, 2010
Now before the feast of the Passover,
when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this
world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world,
he loved them to the end. And during supper, when the devil had
already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to
betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things
into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to
God, rose from supper, laid aside his garments, and girded
himself with a towel. Then he poured water into a basin, and
began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the
towel with which he was girded. He came to Simon Peter; and
Peter said to him, "Lord, do you wash my feet?" Jesus answered
him, "What I am doing you do not know now, but afterward you
will understand." Peter said to him, "You shall never wash my
feet." Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no
part in me." Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, not my feet only
but also my hands and my head!" Jesus said to him, "He who has
bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but he is
clean all over; and you are clean, but not every one of you."
For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, "You
are not all clean." When he had washed their feet, and taken his
garments, and resumed his place, he said to them, "Do you know
what I have done to you?
You call me Teacher and Lord; and you
are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have
washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For
I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have
done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not
greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he
who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you
do them. I am not speaking of you all; I know whom I have
chosen; it is that the scripture may be fulfilled, `He who ate
my bread has lifted his heel against me.' I tell you this now,
before it takes place, that when it does take place you may
believe that I am he. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who
receives any one whom I send receives me; and he who receives me
receives him who sent me."
