ACTING UST Parish Priest Fr. Isidro Abaño, O.P. washed the feet of 12 people to recognize their contributions to society, during the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Maundy Thursday, April 17 at UST Plaza Mayor.
Among the chosen 12 are a security guard, a barangay chairman, a nurse, a fireman, and a professor, who Abaño said are examples of “action in loving service.”
“Nasa kanilang mga kamay ang kakayahan at kapangyarihan upang tiyakin ang kaligtasan at kaayusan ng ating lipunan at komunidad sa pamamagitan ng kanilang ‘di matutumbasang mga mabuting gawain,” he said.
Abaño said that the hands of these public servants are the same hands that receive Christ in the Eucharist.
Receiving the Eucharist in the palm of one’s hand, he added, is a privilege that should inspire the faithful to use those same hands for acts of goodness and service.
“Nawa’y tumagos sa inyong mga puso at diwa, habang nasa kamay niyo ang Panginoon, na ‘yan ding mga kamay ninyo ang may kapangyarihan na gumawa ng mga mabubuting gawain sa halip na masasama,” he said.
“Kaya’t ang ibig sabihin nito ay ang Misa ay nagaganap sa pamamagitan ng makapangyarihang kamay ng Diyos at sa kanyang abot-kamay na nating pag-ibig niya,” Abaño added.
The washing of feet is a ritual observed every Maundy Thursday, showing Jesus’ humility toward the 12 apostles a day before His death on the cross.
The Blessed Sacrament was brought in procession to the Altar of Repose at Santisimo Rosario Parish Church after the Mass.
