HOLY THURSDAY 17 APRIL God’s love stays with us Scripture: John 13: 1 - 15 Reflection Today’s Gospel contains some of the most powerful and lovely lines from all of Scripture: “So, during supper, fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power… he rose… and… he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet…” Here, St. John presents us with a penetrating insight into Jesus’ love for us. In some of the final hours of his life, this is the message that the Son of God wants to give. If we had one night left to live and had everything in our power, would we be washing feet? More likely, we would be living it up or crying and moaning about how unfair life was. But, perhaps we would be like Jesus and would really just use our power to summon all of our loved ones so we could be together one last time. This is, of course, what Jesus did. Jesus did not use power, though. It was the way he showed the enormity of God’s love for us. Jesus answered the question “What would I do if I knew that I had one night to live?” with “I want you to know how much I love you.” This is why he gives us the Eucharist and why John ties it in with feet washing: that we may live our lives in imitation of the love that takes itself to Calvary. Randy Pausch, a former computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon University, delivered his “Last Lecture”, giving life advice through sharing the most important lessons that he had learned throughout his life. He did this, hoping that his daughters could know him after his fight with pancreatic cancer was over. As the model of that kind of longing-to-stay-with-you love, Jesus says to us at the supper table on Holy Thursday: “Do this in remembrance of me.” Practical Suggestion After the Mass of the Lord’s Supper and Washing the Feet, there is time made available in the church for vigil at the Altar of Repose. Try to spend half an hour in prayer and reflection with our Lord on this holy night. Prayer Loving God and Father, thank you for sending your Son, Jesus, to be with us. The Eucharist which he left us shows us how much you love us. May we hunger for the Bread of Life always and have the strength and courage to serve our brothers and sisters as Jesus did. Amen.
Posted on: Wed, 16 Apr 2014 17:55:28 +0000
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