Gospel Passage: Jn 13:1-5  

Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. And during supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper, laid aside his garments, and girded himself with a towel. Then he poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which he was girded. 

1. He loved us to the end  

John 13 is the preface to the passion of Christ. As he nears the end of his life, and the unspeakable sufferings that approach, Jesus loves us to the end, to the extreme. When Jesus sees difficulty and trouble coming - his imminent passion - he does not give into feel self-pity, nor does he second-guess his Father or reassess his options. Rather he redoubles his efforts, reconfirms his decision, and goes ahead with greater resolve. "The Son of Man has come to serve," he once told his disciples. Now he undertakes the most radical service, becoming their slave. In the face the apostles' jostling for the first place, he acts as their slave. His washing their feet was also a symbol that would help them understand the degree of his love in giving his life - he was not obliged to do it, it should have been us to give our lives for him. The sinners should have died and not the innocent Lamb. Jesus teaches us never to let up, never to give in. Difficulty should bring out greater resolve. The resistance of our passions and emotions call for more decision. When faced with the cross we have to learn to love until the end. 

Conversation with Christ: Lord Jesus, let me never turn away when following you calls for sacrifice and struggle. Teach me to overcome challenges by loving more, giving more. You once said that I must take up my cross daily in order to follow you and be worthy of you. So difficulties and struggle are part of following you, they may be sign I am on the right road, so help me to increase my virtue: love you more, believe in you more, hope in you more, so as to remain faithful and never shirk my responsibility. 

2. He girded himself with a towel  

Jesus performs the functions of the household slave. Washing the visitors' feet was something that only a slave would do, but still he could be forced to do it: he could be asked but had to do so freely. By his incarnation and life among us as man Jesus stripped himself of the garment of his divinity and girded himself with our weak, frail humanity. He told his Father, "Here I come to do your will". Jesus takes on our condition, shares our sorrows and weakness. "He became like us in all things but sin". No one forced him to do this. He did it willingly, like his decision to wash his disciples' feet. There is nothing Jesus won't do in order for us to be free from sin, washed clean in his blood. We imitate Jesus' attitude when we lay aside our own pretensions and airs of human greatness, and humble ourselves. And when we don't count the cost, but do all we can for others. Service of others, particularly their eternal spirit, is imitation of Christ. 

Conversation with Christ: Lord Jesus, help me see the love and strength that is needed to be humble and to serve, like you. Help me overcome with your example my natural tendency to look out for myself, and free me from making my life-decisions based on what I need rather than on the needs of those around me, the people you want me to serve. Let me never seek greatness in having others stoop to serve me, but in being like you, bending to serve them. 

Questionnaire: To help you to examine your life, in the light of the inspirations God just gave you in these moments you shared with him. 

1. What is my attitude when following Jesus leads me to sacrifice? Could I say that I have learned to "love to the end" or "love to the extreme" as Jesus did?  

2. What acts of service to others do I usually do?  

3. Am I capable of laying aside my own preferences, likes and whims in order to serve the needs of others?  

4. What place do the needs of others have in my thoughts about my future, and my decisions regarding my path in life?