Most of my adult life since Vatican II, at every parish I have either worshipped or celebrated Holy Thursday, the priest and others have washed the feet of men and women, boys, girls and elderly people.  I have never in my life given much extra thought to this practice because it struck me that Jesus, of course, washed the feet of all those in need as a sign to us also to do likewise.

Jewish ritual assumed that the seder at the Passover was not legitimate if there were no women present. In the patriarchal society at the time of Jesus, who else would have served the meals? Jesus had, himself, just been anointed by a woman in costly nards and said something that, in fact, the church has largely ignored through most of its history: “Amen, I say to you, whenever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be spoken of, in memory of me.” (Matthew 26:13) In point of fact we have very rarely heard of this act of the woman proclaimed far and wide about her washing Jesus’ feet with her tears.

Hurray for Bishop of Rome and also Pope Francis for washing the feet of women and few Muslims in the detention facility on Holy Thursday. Of course, they would have felt left out if their feet could not be washed. What a breath of fresh air—so necessary after such a long period of overly self-centered church activity.

The words of Father John Coleman