We see then in the scene of the washing of the feet that the Evangelist interprets here not only Christology but also Christian anthropology. I should like to discuss three points illustrating this statement:

• First, seen in this way, not only do the life and death Jesus cohere but also the sacraments of baptism and penance which emerge from the font which is the love of Jesus. The life and death of Jesus, and baptism and penance are together the divine font opening the way to freedom and giving access to the table of life.
•  Second, this scene likewise interprets the spiritual content of baptism: the permanent “yes” to love, with faith as the central act of the spiritual life.  
• Third, starting from these two points, an ecclesiology and a Christian ethic develop. To accept the washing of feet means entering into the Lord’s action, sharing in it ourselves, letting ourselves be identified with that action. To receive this washing means to continue with Christ to wash the soiled feet of the world. Jesus says, “If I, then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet” (13:14).

These words are not a moral gloss on a dogmatic fact, but rather belong to the very center of Christology. Love is received only by loving. Fraternal love is, in John, inserted into the Trinitarian love. This is the “new commandment,” not in the sense of an external command but as the inner structure of the essence of Christianity.

In this connection it can be interesting to point out how St. John never speaks of a love for all people in general, but only of love within the fraternal community, that is, the bap­tized. Modern theologians criticize St. John for this fact and speak of an unacceptable restriction of Christianity, of a loss of universality. Certainly, there is a danger here, and com­plementary texts, like the parable of the good Samaritan and that of the last judgment, are indispensable. But taken in the context of the unity and indivisibility of the New Testament as a whole, John expresses a very important truth: love in the abstract will never have any force in the world if it does not sink its roots in the actual community built on fraternal love. Love’s polity is constructed only by starting out from a small fraternal community. It has to begin from the particu­lar to arrive at the universal. To make openings for fraternity is today no less important than in the time of St. John, or of St. Benedict, who with the fraternity of monks was the true architect of Christian Europe, building models of the new city in a fraternity of faith.

And now, returning to the Gospel, we can say that the account of the washing of the feet has a very literal content. The sacramental structure involves an ecclesial structure, a fraternal structure. This structure implies that Christians have to be ready to offer one another the service of slaves, and that only thus can they bring about the Christian revolution, and construct the New City.

Pope Benedict XVI (Journey to Easter)

The post Wash One Another’s Feet first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Fr Dominic gives the homily at Griswold, CT, on Apr 02, 2026, reflecting on Holy Thursday’s Last Supper where Jesus, sorrowful yet loving, washes the apostles’ feet including Judas’, institutes the Eucharist as the greatest act of love, and commands us to love one another as He has loved us, inviting us into His suffering, death, and resurrection through the Triduum.

Fr. Dominic’s Holy Thursday homily immerses listeners in the upper room during the Last Supper, the start of the Triduum, as Jesus’ long-awaited hour of suffering unfolds. Sorrowful yet filled with love, Jesus foresees His torture and death for our sins, yet washes even Judas’ feet—a slave’s task—demonstrating profound humility and condescension to raise us up. This act symbolizes baptism and confession’s cleansing, and He commands: love one another as I have loved you, to the point of death. Proceeding to institute the Eucharist, Jesus gives His Body and Blood before His Passion, the fruit of His cross outside time, teaching the apostles “Do this in remembrance of Me.” It’s a marital covenant: He gives Himself entirely; we respond in thanksgiving (Eucharistia’s meaning), uniting daily to His suffering, death, and resurrection. Receiving glorified Jesus ensures our eternal rising with Him. We are not spectators but participants, called to humble service toward brothers and sisters. Amen.

USCCB John 13 – foot washing account – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/13
USCCB Luke 22 – Last Supper narrative – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/22
USCCB 1 Corinthians 11 – Eucharist institution – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1corinthians/11
CCC 1337 – washing feet symbolism – http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/1337.htm
CCC 1341 – new commandment mandatum – http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/1341.htm
CCC 1823 – love one another – http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/1823.htm
New Advent – Last Supper encyclopedia – http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09018b.htm
USCCB – Lord’s Supper Mass – https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year-and-calendar/triduum/mass-of-the-lords-supper

00:00 – Introduction to Holy Thursday
00:43 – The Arrival of the Hour of Suffering
01:48 – The Betrayal of Judas
02:29 – Jesus Washing the Feet of the Apostles
04:50 – The New Commandment of Love
05:43 – The Institution of the Eucharist
07:17 – The Desire for Union with Christ
08:09 – Celebrating the Triduum and the Resurrection

Ave Maria!
Mass: Holy Thursday Lords Supper – Wkdy
Readings:  – http://usccb.org/bible/readings/040226.cfm
1st: Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14
Resp: Psalms 116:12-13, 15-16, 17-18
2nd: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Gsp: John 13:1-15

More on the Readings: http://dev.airmaria.com/r?m=1775

Also on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RD7kC2OxszY

The post Institution of Eucharist from Passion’s Tree of Life – Apr 02 – Homily – Fr Dominic first appeared on AirMaria.com.