Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ

Lent is now over and we begin the celebration of the Triduum. Triduum literally means three days. We begin the Triduum with Holy Thursday and the Last Supper. In today’s Gospel reading (John 13:1-15), we are told about the washing of the feet. Jesus demonstrates pure humility to the apostles. A Jew would never have washed the feet of another. This task was reserved for the house servants. The Gospel says that Jesus stripped himself and then bowed down before each of the apostles and washed their feet. He did this humiliating act even knowing that one of them would betray him and the rest would abandon him. Jesus tells the apostles, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.” Jesus is telling the apostles that they too must lower themselves to the level of servant to others to truly live in the spirit of Christ. We must be willing to empty ourselves and take on the form of servant. We must be willing to wash the feet of others, even those who are going to trespass against us. Christ tells us that he came into this world not to be served but to serve others. We too are put on this world to serve others and to lead them to the kingdom of God. Christ gives us the ultimate example of humility and in the next days he will give us the ultimate example of love and mercy. Please make the effort to celebrate all the ceremonies throughout Holy Week. Through these celebrations, we form a deeper understanding of the humility, love and grace which God has poured out for our undeserving souls. Can you imagine having your feet washed by the Son of God? This is what happens every time we open ourselves up to be a servant for others.

A Simple Prayer

Lord, you washed my feet in my baptism and purified my soul.

Help me to humble myself so I can be a servant for others.

Give me the grace to be truly compassionate to those who would trespass against me.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon