Gospel: John
13:1-15
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. The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand
him over. So, during supper, fully aware that the Father had put everything
into his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God, he rose
from supper and took off his outer garments. 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. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him,
"Master, are you going to wash my feet?" Jesus answered and said to
him, "What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand
later." Peter said to him, "You will never wash my feet." Jesus
answered him, "Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with
me." Simon
Peter said to him, "Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head
as well." Jesus said to him, "Whoever has bathed has no need except
to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over; so you are clean, but not
all." For he knew who would betray him; for this reason, he said,
"Not all of you are clean."
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."
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Reflection:
Are you willing to wash the feet of a poor man?
Today Holy Thursday the universal church remembers the institution
of the Eucharist (the first Mass) Mark 14:22-26, Luke 22:15-20, Matthew
26:26-28. The breaking of the bread (Jesus’ body) the sharing of the cup
(Jesus’ blood) foreshadows Jesus sacrificial death on the cross.
During the afternoon Mass on Holy Thursday the ceremony of washing
of the feet of the disciples is done in all of Catholic parish churches
worldwide. After giving his homily the Priest prepares himself to wash the feet
of twelve individuals who act as the apostles. After which the twelve apostles
would randomly choose parishioners and instantaneously wash their feet as well.
This tradition of washing of the disciples’ feet is in keeping
with what Jesus did in the gospel. He washed their feet to show them that even
if he is their Lord, Master and Teacher he is also their humble servant leader
destined to give his life for the salvation of humanity.
At the end of the gospel Jesus told them to do also his example:
“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.” John 13:14-15.
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