Holy Thursday, Gospel Reading

John 13:1-15

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John

Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had cometo 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 hiim over.  So, durng 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 hiim, "What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later."  Peter said to him, "Yu 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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Reflect:

How far are you willing to go to share in the heritage of Christ? Jesus needed to wash the feet of His disciples to show them and us what it means to minister. Washing feet was a demeaning task reserved only for slaves. If we desire to share in the heritage of Christ we need to also imitate His ministry. We need to set aside our self- proclaimed status. A person of heroic virtue stoops down to embrace another’s feet, especially the feet of the poor, outcasted, and neglected. (Reflection from http://www.lifeteen.com/; Daily Devotional, 4-1-10)