An Example For Us

 

  Jn 13:1-15

 Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet

13 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

² The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. ³ Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; ⁴ so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. ⁵ After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

⁶ He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

⁷ Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

⁸ “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”

Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

⁹ “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

¹⁰ Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” ¹¹ For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

¹² When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his  place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. ¹³ “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. ¹⁴ Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. ¹⁵ I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

On this day when we celebrate the institution of the great gift of the Holy Eucharist, we also receive a vivid lesson of what it means to be bread for one another, to be of humble service to all, symbolized by the washing of the feet. Such, service, as Jesus tells Peter, is non-negotiable. What acts of kindness can I perform today?  Can I pray for the sick, the struggling, the homeless, those who have strayed from the truth, those suffering the ravages of war in the Middle East and the Ukraine? Today begins the three most holy and solemn days of the year...may our actions and prayers rise to honor them. "I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you." (Jn 13: 15).

Bro. Rene 

Dear Jesus, thank you for the gift of yourself in the Holy Eucharist and for the vivid example of service to others. May they continue to feed me and guide the way I live. Amen.