By Fr Paul Melwyn D’Souza
Mangaluru, Apr 13: Holy Week is the most solemn and glorious week for Christians. It is the most sacred time of worship and prayer. The three-day period in the Holy Week is referred to as the Easter Triduum. Basically, the Sacred Triduum is one of great festivals recounting the last three days of Jesus’ life on earth, the events of suffering, death and his Passion, respectively and Resurrection on Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday.
The evening Mass on Holy Thursday is referred to as The Mass of the Lord’s Supper or the Eucharist. A foot washing ceremony is incorporated into Mass. Although optional, most Catholics choose to do it, for it is a most powerful symbol of humility and servitude. Given the extreme indignity involved in washing feet in the ancient world, a task usually reserved for the lowest slave of the house. Indeed, Jesus’ own words seem to present it as such: “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given out an example, that you also should do as I have done to you” (John 13: 14-15).
Washing feet of disciples
One of Jesus’ last acts on earth, the last moment with his friends, was spent taking care of them, purifying them, removing the dust of the day. It is said that the gestures speak louder than pictures and words. In the Bible when we read the entire episode of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples we come across two important gestures. The first is, Jesus as ‘Master’ serving and washing the feet of his own disciples. The second gesture is, Judas, who goes with the enemies of Jesus, who do not want peace with Jesus, to take the money in the form of 30 pieces of silver to betray him.
Even in our times these two gestures play a significant role. In the symbolic act that imitates Jesus' gesture of servitude Pope Francis last year, washed the feet of twelve migrants. There were Muslims, Hindus, Catholics, Copts and Evangelicals. For Pope Francis to perform the same action of Jesus washing the feet of the 12 was a gesture of brotherhood. The Pontiff said, “We are different, we have different cultures and religions, but we are brothers and sisters, and we want to live in peace.” He continued, “This is the gesture that I perform with you. Each of us has a story within us. So many crosses, so many sorrows, but we also have a heart open to brotherhood.”
Judas' gesture of destruction
The gesture of Judas was a gesture of destruction. Like Judas Iscariot, many sow discord for gain and trade in arms, selling the tools of bloodshed for profit. Such gestures are carried out by terrorists, fanatics and fundamentalists. They want to destroy the brotherhood of the humanity and do not want to live in peace.
Today countries which do not have national integrity and hate diversity are moving towards destruction. Violence most the time becomes the means to achieve selfish interest of power. The trend is certainly and visibly growing resulting peace loving people keeping away and more and more goons getting into the political system. The competition of money and muscle power has become prominent and perhaps accepted by the society and supported by the legal system which is a kind of act of Judas.
Denying some their food and other’s livelihood, right to profess faith is nothing but onslaught of violence. Maundy Thursday and Good Friday once again give us an opportunity to pray the Lord that there shall be no 30 pieces of silver to purchase violence and killing of citizens, brothers and sisters and there be always goodness and peace.