Holy Thursday – Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper (March 29, 2018): Finding Jesus in dirty feet

Thứ Tư, 28-03-2018 | 15:00:37

Today’s Readings:

Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14
Ps 116:12-13, 15-18
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
John 13:1-15
www.usccb.org/bible/readings/032918-lords-supper.cfm

USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/18_03_29.mp3

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John.

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.”

Good News Reflection: Finding Jesus in dirty feet

Why did Jesus wash the feet of his disciples? Not because they were too lazy to handle their own hygiene and as their servant he wanted to make life easy for them! Rather, he gave them (and us) a model to imitate.

Naturally, we want Jesus to make our lives easier. Isn’t that the purpose behind many of our prayers? Well, surprise! We do get what we ask for, but not the way we had imagined. When we imitate Jesus, it’s the way we cope with the difficulties of life that becomes easier.

Have you washed anyone’s feet lately? Maybe you haven’t literally soaped up a friend’s smelly feet as a sign of your unconditional love, but I’m sure you have given of yourself in a foot-washing way.

To wash the feet of others is to love them even when they don’t deserve your love.

To wash the feet of others is to do good to them even if they don’t return the favor.

To wash the feet of others is to consider their needs as important as your own.

To wash the feet of others is to forgive them even if they don’t say, “I’m sorry.”

To wash the feet of others is to serve them even when the task is unpleasant.

To wash the feet of others is to let them know you care when they feel downtrodden or burdened.

To wash the feet of others is to be generous with what you have.

To wash the feet of others is to turn the cheek instead of retaliating when you’re treated unfairly.

To wash the feet of others is to make adjustments in your plans so you can serve their needs.

To wash the feet of others is to serve them with humility and not with any hope of reward.

Notice the posture of Jesus. He knelt. Imagine Jesus kneeling in front of you now, lowering himself to the level of your feet and tenderly ministering to your needs. He is in fact doing this, right now, today. And he will do it again and again, as often as you need him to care about you!

He is asking you to go and do likewise: Be the hands of Jesus that wash the feet of the people around you. You are the answer to their prayers!

By serving others, we gain understanding of what Jesus did for us 2000 years ago — and we become more observant of how he’s ministering to us. We meet Jesus in the dirty feet that we lower ourselves to clean.

To copy this to distribute to others, please order it from Catholic Digital Resources at catholicdr.com/calendar/Lent/holy-thursday/. Thank you for sharing the Good News!

Journey through the Holy Triduum with these free inspirational resources:
wordbytes.gnm.org/Lent/

Today’s Prayer:

Beloved Lord: Heal me from pride and the greed of power. Grant me a humble heart, able to give love wherever You tell me. Amen.

Tags: Good News Reflection, Holy Gospel according to John., Holy Week