By Rondell Treviño, Founder/Director, TiP
Maundy Thursday, also known as “Holy Thursday,” is the Thursday of Passion Week, one day before Good Friday (the Friday before Easter). Maundy Thursday is the name given to the day on which Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples, known as the Last Supper.
Two important events are the focus of Maundy Thursday. First, Jesus celebrated the Last Supper with His disciples and thereby instituted the Lord’s Supper, also called Communion (Luke 22:19-20). Some Christian churches observe a special Communion service on Maundy Thursday in memory of Jesus’ Last Supper with His disciples. Second, Jesus washed the disciples’ feet as an act of humility and service, thereby setting an example that we should love and serve one another in humility (John 13:3-17).
The word Maundy is derived from the Latin word for “command.” The “Maundy” in “Maundy Thursday” refers to the command Jesus gave to the disciples at the Last Supper, that they should love and serve one another.
How do we apply this to Immigrants today?
Invite Immigrants to your dinner table. At the Lord’s Supper, Jesus had a table full of broken sinners, two of which would betray him. Jesus loved the disciples despite their flaws and what they would do to Him shortly after. When it comes to Immigrants, even if they are undocumented, we are called to love them–one way of doing this is by intentionally inviting them to fellowship with our families at one of the most unused places in our home: the dinner table.
Wash Immigrants’ feet. When Jesus washed the disciples feet, He washed feet that were extremely dirty. In those days they didn’t own a pair of Nike or Reebok shoes–they had sandals. When the King of the universe got on His knees and washed their feet, He was showing them that serving others is a vital part of being a disciple. Are we willing to serve Immigrants, documented and undocumented, this way? Are we willing get our hands dirty and wash their feet spiritually by ministering and doing justice on their behalf? Are we serving Migrants at the Border with water and food? Jesus washed our feet spiritually when He died on the cross for our sin, and a response to His service is to do the same thing for others, including Immigrants. Yeah, it’s hard work and uncomfortable, but it’s our calling as His people.
The immigration Project equips the Church to embrace a biblically balanced approach to immigration that shows compassion to immigrants while respecting the rule of law.
