Reflection for Holy Thursday April 2 The Mass of the Lord’s Supper: John 13:1-15

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:

What would we do if we knew that we were about to have the last supper of our lives? Perhaps we would turn inward and think of ourselves. Maybe we would withdraw from others and pray with deep intensity before our God.

Yet Jesus, fully aware that His hour had come, chose a different path. During His Last Supper, He did not seek comfort for Himself. Instead, He knelt down and washed the feet of His apostles—an act so humble, so profound, that it revealed the very heart of God. In that sacred moment, He showed us that true greatness is found not in being served, but in serving others with love.

Through this powerful gesture, Jesus imprinted upon the hearts of His apostles—and upon us as well—that if we truly desire to follow Him, we must first embrace humility. We are called to serve, to lower ourselves, and to love without expecting anything in return.

How often do people turn away from our faith because they do not see the humility of Jesus reflected in us? How often do we fail to grow because we hold on to pride, choosing recognition over service, comfort over sacrifice? If we are honest with ourselves, we know that we sometimes struggle to live out the very example that Jesus has given us.

If we desire to become true leaders in our families, communities, and faith, we must learn to serve rather than be served. We must lead not only with words, but with actions that reflect compassion, patience, and self-giving love. Above all, we must follow the path of humility that Jesus Himself walked.

This Holy Thursday, as we reflect on the words of Jesus in the Gospel, “I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do” (John 13:15), let us open our hearts more deeply to His call.

And so we ask ourselves: Are we willing to kneel down in humility and serve others as Jesus did—even when it is difficult, unnoticed, or uncomfortable—or are we still holding back, choosing to be served rather than to serve?— Marino J. Dasmarinas