The Washing of the Feet Liturgy

Today, on Holy Thursday at JPC, we prepared ourselves for Jesus’ death and resurrection in the  Holy Thursday Liturgy leading us into the Easter Triduum – the 3-day period starting tonight that ends Lent, and continues over Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday, to introduce Easter. 

­Holy Thursday, also known as Maundy Thursday, commemorates the Last Supper; Jesus giving a new command to love one another; and, his washing the feet of the disciples.

WASHING OF THE FEET = HUMBLE SERVICE

As part of our Liturgy today, some of our staff and students washed the feet of others from our JPC community, to show that we too, serve each other, just as Jesus was a servant of those whom he led.

This was not a re-enactment of Jesus washing the disciples' feet, but rather an action by which we are reminded that God calls us first and foremost to be servants to each other in our daily lives.

THE LAST SUPPER = EUCHARIST

After washing his disciples’ feet, Jesus’ shared the bread and wine with those he loves at the last supper before his arrest. He prayed and thanked God for the meal. He broke the bread, and shared the wine, explaining how the bread was his body, broken for them, and the wine, his blood which would be poured out for their sins to be forgiven.

In our Masses we continue to celebrate this meal through the Eucharist, where we too, as the Body of Christ, share in the body and blood of Jesus, in memory of Him, and for our sins to be forgiven.

GOOD FRIDAY = REMEMBRANCE

Tomorrow is Good Friday, when we remember Jesus' arrest after he was betrayed, his humiliation, the accusations raised against him, and that he was condemned to death by Pilate, and was crucified. It is a very sad and somber day in our Church.

Please take the time with your family today, tomorrow or over Easter – create a special, quiet space; ask your family to join you, and watch last year’s “Stations of The Cross @ JPC” video (link below) and join in the prayers along the way as you walk with Jesus to His death and resurrection. Reflect on these powerful images and the words spoken. Be open to an encounter with Jesus as a man.

To follow this sombre experience, please ensure you and your family attend some or all of the Easter Masses in your Parish to celebrate the joy of Jesus’ resurrection.

Enjoy the Easter break with your family, and see you in Term 2!

Jennifer Tually
Leader of Learning (Mission and Ministry), and Wellbeing (Ferré House)

From the ‘Bread Broken’ series by Sr Mary Stephens – Artworks in our JPC Chapel