Gospel: Jn 13:1-15

Before the festival of the Passover, Jesus, knowing that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father, having loved those who were his own in the world, loved them to the end. They were at supper, and the devil had already put it into the mind of Judas Iscariot son of Simon, to betray him.  Jesus knew that the Father had put everything into his hands, and that he had come from God and was returning to God, and he got up from table, removed his outer garments and, taking a towel, wrapped it round his waist; he then poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples feet and to wipe them with the towel he was wearing. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, Lord, are you going to wash my feet?  Jesus answered, At the moment you do not know what I am doing, but later you will understand.  Never! said Peter.  You shall never wash my feet.  Jesus replied, If I do not wash you, you can have no share with me. Simon Peter said, Well then, Lord, not only my feet, but my hands and my head as well!  Jesus said, No one who has had a bath needs washing, such a person is clean all over.  You too are clean, but not all of you are.  He knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said, Though not all of you are.  When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments again he went back to the table.  Do you understand, he said, what I have done to you?  You call me master and Lord, and rightly; so I am.  If I, then, the Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you must wash each others feet.  I have given you an example so that you may copy what I have done to you.

Introductory Prayer: Lord Jesus, show me what it means to be united to you, what it means to truly live our Catholic Faith. Help me to enlighten others about what it means to be a true friend of yours in these difficult times that you are about to undergo as you begin to suffer for us.

Petition: Make my heart more like yours, Lord Jesus.

1. Having loved those who were his in the world, loved them to the end.

Our Lord has wanted us to be with him forever. Here he is, about to endure the most brutal punishment given to anyone of his time, and yet his heart goes out to us as he looks upon us. He does not want to leave without sharing his love with us. Love is the only thing that lasts, and it is the ingredient that enables us to be united to Our Lord.  

2. The charity of Christ is the source in us of all our merits before God (CCC 2011).

The Lord wants to leave us an example of what it means to be with him. He goes ahead and began to wash the disciples feet and to wipe them with the towel he was wearing. He is love, and he leaves us with the example of what it means to love. Union with Christ seeks the Lord and the things that are his, as he wants them, as he would do them. Here we love the Lord, for love is committing, inviting us to leave ourselves so as to be with God. Being with Christ is not to seek great things, but the will of the Father, just as he will seek it tonight, loving the Father by carrying out his will. Being with our Lord will sometimes bring us to the stony place just as it does for our Lord tonight, but it is in those places where we find him.

3. If I then, the Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you must wash each others feet.

Lord, you set the pace for us once again. Love calls us to serve our neighbor, to be unafraid of humiliation, even to the point of washing the feet of our neighbor. Being united to you calls for me to do as you would do, and not to be afraid of what lies ahead. When all else is gone, only the love of Christ remains. Everything, everything else turns into smoke, mist, nothing, says Fr Maciel. This is what Our Lord wants us to learn and live: the Gospel message of charity.

Dialogue: Lord Jesus, thank you for coming on this earth to redeem me and to show me the way. I want to be with you forever, imitating you in your actions here on earth by what I can do for others. Apart from you, life means nothing, and in these hours of pain and suffering that you are about to undergo, help me to be close to you and learn from your example of charity.

Questionnaire:

1. How shall I imitate Christ in his example of service so as to be more like him?

2. Do my actions show that I am a friend of Christ?  Do they show that I consider myself one of his followers?  How would Jesus respond if asked if I am one of his followers?