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Gospel Reading for April 17, 2025 – John 13: 1-15
CONNECTION
Holy Thursday, Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper
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.”
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Most of us would be washing our hands before we eat, but washing the feet during supper is unheard of, except for Jesus. Moreso, it is said that it is customary for a servant to wash the feet of guests (We can imagine how very dirty their feet were during Jesus’ time when closed shoes was not yet in fashion). Therefore, Jesus stooped down from his stature of being the master and teacher to that of being a servant of his followers. Undeniably, this is not the way of the world. But, as Jesus said in Matthew 20: 25-26: “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.”
What now is the CONNECTION between the last supper and washing of feet?
The Last Supper as we know, is the institution of the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist or the Mass. The Eucharist is a gathering of God’s Family. It is where Christian Catholics gather around the table of the Lord, and as members of God’s Family, we are all called to be of service to one another, regardless of position in the Church, in Government, or in Society. He/She who serves most is the greatest in God’s Kingdom.
Lord Jesus, thank you for giving us the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist so you may be with us until the end of the age! (Matthew 28: 20)
