April 21, 2011
Holy Thursday
Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper
This is how you are to eat it: with your loins girt, sandals on your feet and your staff in hand, you shall eat like those who are in flight. It is the Passover of the LORD. Exodus 12:11
For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes. 1 Corinthians 11:26
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. John 13:1
Piety
Jesus, you humbled yourself to join us as humans. And then, in one of your final personal encounters before being arrested, convicted, tortured and executed by the state, you washed the feet of your friends. This act truly shows the kind of behavior we must imitate. May the Holy Spirit guide us through this example with the inspiration to put aside our tiny rivalries, sensitivities, discourtesies, pride, everything which distracts from You, everything which divides or discourages so that we may be united as imitators of Christ. Amen.
Study
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." John 13:6-7
Washing of the disciples' feet is an act we do not understand. The notes in the New American Bible explain that this episode occurs in John at the place of the narration of the institution of the Eucharist in the synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. It also may be an apt dramatization of Luke 22:27--"I am your servant." The washing of the feet is presented as a "model" ("pattern") of the crucifixion. It symbolizes cleansing from sin by sacrificial death. It also has an interesting parallel with the scene when Jesus has his feet bathed with fine oils and perfumes and reminds us that He will not always be physically present in our lives after those blessed feet climb the rocky path and are nailed to the cross Friday afternoon.
Action
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. John 13:13-15
Whose feet are you challenged to wash? How will you model this act of Christ? Do this in memory of Him.
