The foot-washing ceremony that takes place during the
evening Mass on Holy Thursday is very significant in the life of every priest.
It’s a humbling experience that I treasure and look forward to every year, even
in my chapel at Hilltop Gardens. It’s interesting to note that the foot-washing
was considered a sacrament in the early years of the church, a sacrament of
service. It would have been our 8th sacrament if the church were to keep it. It
won’t surprise me one day if Pope Francis were to re-introduce it as a
sacrament of the Catholic church. He is fond of this humble gesture as he
visits prisons, hospitals and rehabilitation places to lead this humble service
on Holy Thursday. In the USA, I also introduced this custom at weddings and
quite a few couples appreciated this gesture as they commit themselves to a life
of equality and service towards each other. And Jesus gave the apostles an
order, to do to others what He did to them, to wash their feet and serve them
unconditionally and whole-heartedly.
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