Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ

 

Gospel Reading: 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.”

 

Depending on when you are reading this email, Lent may now be over.  The end of Lent marks the beginning of 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, 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 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.” 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