As we enter this sacred evening of Holy Thursday, also known as Maundy Thursday, we witness one of the most profound moments in our Christian tradition: Jesus, knowing his hour had come, kneels before his disciples to wash their feet. This gesture would have shocked those present - their Master taking the position of the lowest servant. The King of Kings, bending low, handling the dust-covered feet of ordinary men. In this act, Jesus redefines leadership and love in terms that continue to challenge us today.
The name "Maundy" itself comes from the Latin "mandatum," meaning "commandment," referring to Jesus's words that evening: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you." This commandment forms the heart of Maundy Thursday, a day that commemorates not only the washing of feet but also the institution of the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper. It marks the beginning of the Triduum, those three holy days that stand at the center of our faith's most profound mysteries.
The Gospel of John captures this moment with startling clarity. "He loved them to the end," we are told, and this love manifested not in grand proclamations but in humble service. As Jesus institutes the Eucharist and establishes the priesthood on this holy night, he simultaneously provides the framework for how these gifts are to be lived out through selfless giving and humble service. "If I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet," he tells them, "you also ought to wash one another's feet."
This invitation to humble service often collides with our human tendency toward pride. How easily we seek recognition, status, and authority, even in our spiritual lives. Yet true discipleship requires us to follow our Lord's example, kneeling before others in genuine service without calculation or expectation of return. Pride blinds us to the needs around us and deafens us to Christ's call. It creates the illusion that we are better than humble service, above the messy work of touching others' lives at their most vulnerable points.
Consider this: In lowering ourselves, we are raised up; in serving, we are inspired; in washing feet, we become more like our Lord. As we commemorate this holy evening, let us examine our hearts. Where do we resist the call to serve others? Where does pride prevent us from fully embracing Jesus Christ's example? True devotion is found not merely in adoration but in imitation, allowing His love to transform us into people who serve others with the same selfless love He demonstrated. May we find the courage to pick up the basin and towel in our own lives, following in His footsteps of humble love.
Humility and Love: The Currency of Eternity
In the big picture of our existence, we often find ourselves pursuing wealth, status, and achievements that seem monumental within our lifetime. We want to see ourselves as incredibly smart, intellectually wise, and wealthy beyond everyone else; that's pride talking. Yet from an eternal perspective, these worldly currencies hold little to no value. What truly matters - what surpasses our temporal existence - is our humility and capacity to love God and others.
Humility serves as the foundation for authentic spirituality. When we humble ourselves before God, we acknowledge that we are not the center of the universe, that our understanding is limited, and that we require God's guidance. This humility opens our hearts to receive God's love and wisdom. As scripture reminds us, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
True love for God flows naturally from this humility. It's not merely emotional devotion or ritualistic worship, but a profound surrender of our will to divine purpose. This love manifests as trust, obedience, and alignment with God's character. When we genuinely love God, we seek to know Him more deeply and follow His ways more faithfully.
This personal relationship with God naturally extends to others. We love others not because they deserve it or because it benefits us, but because each person is made in the image of God and is precious in God's sight. Our capacity to love selflessly - especially those who cannot repay us - reflects God's love for us.
In the final accounting, the ledgers of eternity will not record our bank balances, achievements, or social status. They will measure the depth of our humility and the breadth of our love. In our lives, did we recognize our dependence on God? Did we allow God's love to transform us? Did we extend that love to others?
The material possessions we accumulate, the honors we receive, and even our intellectual accomplishments - all these will fade and deem no eternal value. But humility and love endure because they align us with the eternal nature of God himself. Humility and love for God and others are the true currency of heaven, the only investments that remain with us after death and hold value in eternity.
©2025 James Dacey Jr.
