- Holy Thursday
The Cross is the word through which God has responded to evil in the world. Sometimes it may seem as though God does not react to evil, as if he is silent. And yet, God has spoken, he has replied, and his answer is the Cross of Christ: a word which is love, mercy, forgiveness. It is also reveals a judgment, namely that God, in judging us, loves us. Remember this: God, in judging us, loves us. If I embrace his love then I am saved, if I refuse it, then I am condemned, not by him, but my own self,
because God never condemns, he only loves and saves.
– Pope Francis, Way of the Cross at the Colosseum, March 29, 2013
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EX 12:1-8, 11-14; PS 116:12-13, 15-16BC, 17-18; 1 COR 11:23-26
JN 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.”
Reflection on the Scriptures |
Today, we recall God’s loving, ancient fidelity. Let us be with Jesus in the breaking of bread, and as he washes and dries the feet of the apostles. How can we be with Jesus by being bread for others, and servant, as a sign, symbol and sacrament of Christ’s presence? To be Eucharist! Through our baptism, are we not anointed to be his presence and to carry on the work of the Gospel? We were
anointed to carry on all that we have been taught as disciples. We are invited to be as he was. Our lives are given and shared, broken and eaten in loving service and too, at times, sacrifice.
Also, today the sacred oils were blessed at the Chrism Mass. These oils are the sacramental sign and symbol for anointing at life’s important moments, recognizing God with us. These are times when we are blessed with the oils recognizing a sacramental, holy life at birth, illness, death, commitment, and the call we each have to discipleship, in whatever path we choose. The Spirit of the Lord is upon us because we
have been anointed!
May this Easter Triduum be an opportunity to be with Jesus, as we hear his story, reflect on his arrest, betrayal, trial, death and pray with him into the joy of his resurrected presence — one day at a time. May we stand in awe of this great gift of the Paschal Mystery. May we know God’s loving fidelity.
Jesus asks, “Do you realize what I have done for you?”
- by Sr. Candice Tucci, OSF
Revelations of Divine Love
- by Julian of Norwich
Sixteenth Revelation, Chapter 73
Two manners of sickness that we have: impatience, or sloth;—despair, or mistrustful dread
And for help of this, full meekly our Lord shewed the patience that He had in His Hard Passion; and also the joying and the satisfying that He hath of that Passion, for love. And this He shewed in example that we should gladly and wisely bear our pains, for that is great pleasing to Him and endless profit to us. And the cause why we are travailed with them is for lack in knowing of Love. Though the three
Persons in the Trinity be all even in Itself, the soul took most understanding in Love; yea, and He willeth that in all things we have our beholding and our enjoying in Love. And of this knowing are we most blind. For some of us believe that God is Almighty and may do all, and that He is All-Wisdom and can do all; but that He is All-Love and will do all, there we stop short. it is, that hindereth most God's lovers, as to my sight.
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