Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end… He took a towel and tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and dry them with the towel around his waist… So when he had washed their feet (and) put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, "Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me 'teacher' and 'master,' and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do. (Jn 13,1-15)
Context of today’s reading is very clear. It is the feast of the Passover. The context should never be forgotten when we reflect upon the reading. It is a religious context. It is a liturgical context. This feast came into existence based on a real, factual experience of the people of Israel 2000 years earlier. It was a God experience; God taking sides with the poor and the marginalized. This God promised to be with them to the very end. This God made a covenant with them to show his fidelity.
After 2000 years, Jesus using this as a context makes a covenant with the people of his times. He takes all the religious, liturgical significances as the background for what he is about to do. The Gospel writers: Matthew, Mark and Luke, make (give an opportunity to make) another liturgical event. That is, Jesus institutes the Eucharist and the Priesthood. This is the covenant that he makes; that is, he will be with the people till the end through the Eucharist and through Priesthood. His life and mission will continue to be fulfilled through these two signs.
John the evangelist, in stead, presents the washing of the feet of the disciples in the place of the institution of the Eucharist and the Priesthood. Does he give the same importance to this action? It could be.
Washing of the feet of the other, shows the relationship that exists between them. Only people of very close relationship will wash the feet of the other (like the mother of her child). Slaves will do it out of duty and not out of love or relationship. Here, in the case of Jesus, the master is doing it. It is done as a model to be imitated. It reveals relationship that exists between the master and the disciples. That is why he tells Peter, If I do not wash your feet then you will have no part with me. Washing is also a ministry of cleaning the dirt. So Jesus is telling his disciples that their ministry in the future should also be one of building up relationship.
