“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)
Reflections on the readings for Holy Thursday / Evening Mass of the Lord’s Passion (April 14, 2022): EX 12:1-8,11-14; PS 116:12-13,15-16,17-18; 1 COR 11:23-26; JN 13:1-15
MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.
The Son of God is the servant of all and He asks us to be servants as well. If we do not, we are not really His disciples.
The feast of Passover is a magnificent reminder of God’s love and faithfulness. Jesus called His Apostles together to venerate this Jewish holy day even as He prepared for His own death. In today’s reading from St. Paul we hear about Christ’s gift of the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper. We also know that the Apostles themselves, and those who came after them in the ministerial priesthood, were ordained. We celebrate both of these extraordinary sacraments during this Mass of the Lord’s Supper. But, in the Gospel according to St. John, we concentrate on another vital concern: the commandment to love. Jesus is demanding their love, not only for Him, but also for one another. He accepted the role of a servant, a slave, and taking a basin of water and a towel wrapped around His waist, He knelt down before each Apostle and washed and dried his feet. Perhaps it was no surprise that St. Peter was shocked and argued with Jesus. But our Lord explained why it was so important, why it mattered that they imitate Him in His love and humility. “Do you realize what I have done for you? You call Me teacher and master, and rightly so, 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 13:12-15).
Jesus wanted the Apostles and all who follow Him to understand how vital it is to love others -- and to demonstrate that love through gracious and humble service. He is teacher and master, yet He willingly washes away the dust from their feet, the suffering from their hearts, and the sin from their souls. And He does the same for us. The Son of God is the servant of all and He asks us to be servants as well. If we do not, we are not really His disciples. We might respect and revere Him, but we do not love and serve Him if we do not love and serve others.
Suggested missionary action: On this Holy Thursday, we can reflect on all that has been commemorated and all that will happen during the rest of the Pascal Triduum. Let us particularly pray for our fellow Christians and for those preparing to be baptized at the Easter Vigil that we all remain faithful to our Savior