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"If I do not wash you, you have no part in me." (John 13:8)

The Easter Triduum
Thursday, April 8, 2004
Holy Thursday Evening – Mass of the Lord's Supper

First Reading:
Psalm:
Second Reading:
Gospel:

Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14
Psalm 116:12-13, 15-18
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
John 13:1-15

0h, if you could see the mystery of the altar as it really is after the Consecration, you would see Jesus Christ on the Cross, making oblation to His Father of His Wounds, His Blood, His Death for the salvation of your soul and the whole world.

-- St. Peter Julian Eymard

The following is, as usual, from The Word Among Us:

Holy Thursday

What an astounding image the Lord gave his disciples--and us--of his love. The King of kings, actually bending over us, washing our feet. Who are we that the Lord of all creation should be so concerned with us? But this is the very nature of Jesus' love for us: It is so intense that it moved him to lower himself to take on the position of a servant for our sakes.

But how many times have we echoed Peter's words and tried to keep Jesus from ministering to us? Maybe we have thought we don't deserve such love. Or maybe we have thought we don't really need to be washed clean. But to each of us, Jesus says, "Unless I wash you, you have no share with me" (John 13:8). Unless we let him care for us and cleanse us, we will end up separated from him.

Jesus wants to wash us--both in baptism and in our everyday lives--so that we can enter into his presence and know his touch. Accepting that offer means quieting our hearts and minds. It means stopping during our day and coming before the Lord both peacefully and recognizing our need. Of course we do have duties and obligations that we must accomplish every day, but if we allow these to dominate our hearts, we will miss out on so much that Jesus wants to do for us.

Today, we enter into the Easter Triduum, the great three-day celebration of our redemption. By spending extra time with Jesus at the various liturgies this weekend, we are giving him the opportunity to wash our feet again. We are giving him permission to move more freely in our hearts. And whenever we do that, we are transformed a little bit more into his image. We are filled a little bit more with his love and power. We become his servants in the world, washing the feet of those around us.

"Jesus, during these next few days, help me to rest quietly in your presence and let you wash my feet. I don't want to let my busyness get the better of me. Instead, I want to go deeper with you. You are my life. Help me to surrender the pride that won't let you minister to me. Come, Lord, and have your way in me."

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God bless.