Gospel
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
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.
This is what stood out to me in this Gospel reading. A friend of mine told me that in the Old Testament, it was Mosaic Law that the Priests had their feet anointed. I actually did not find this in my research, but I did find other instances where the washing of the feet is very significant to the priesthood.
In this Gospel, Jesus humbly washes the feet of His disciples, exemplifying servant leadership, humility and sacrificial love. The other Gospels tell of the Institution of the Holy Eucharist, but this is the scene that John put in his Gospel; the washing of the disciples feet. In this action, Jesus shows his disciples an example of selfless service and humility.
Jesus died for us so that we may have life. It is crazy to think that God became incarnate and died, so that we may live. "You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am." The priesthood is to do likewise.
Priests represent the presence of Christ for God's people. Here in this Gospel, Jesus asks His disciples, "Do you realize what I have done for you?" How many of us have ever thought about what the priesthood actually entails and how our priests give of their lives everyday?
Praise God for the gift of the Priesthood and the example set by Christ. Today is a wonderful day to pray even more for our priests so they embrace their vocation with humility as they strive to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Here is a link to our PAPA Prayer for Priests.
Happy Institution of the Holy Eucharist and Institution to the Priesthood!
God bless you!
