Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 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.”

Live to serve

1. Priesthood. On Holy Thursday the Ministerial Priesthood is instituted. There are two types of priesthood: the common Priesthood which we all receive through Baptism, because we take the Word of God to others. The common priesthood of the faithful is exercised by living the baptismal grace in a life of faith, hope, and charity, according to the Spirit. But there is also the Ministerial Priesthood, given as a pure gift to some men who say “Yes” to the Lord.  The Ministerial Priesthood is a means by which Christ continuously builds up and leads his Church. For this reason, it is transmitted by its own sacrament, the sacrament of Holy Orders. Today Jesus shows that the Ministerial Priesthood is a ministry of Love and Service. Happy day to the priests who give their lives for Christ and risk it every day to proclaim and take God’s mercy to everyone.  To those who take care of many chapels, to those who go to and fro, to those who go to the countryside, to the persecuted.

2. The Eucharist. It is the Thanksgiving par excellence. Jesus is the Eucharist. He came to stay forever, in the ordinary and simple form of Bread. The Eucharist is the axis of our Christian faith, because Christ leads us to form a community through His Body. We live the Eucharist as a community. Community and Eucharist are two sides of the same coin.

3. Love. Today Christ gives us a new commandment: that we should love one another. It is the identity of the Christian to love one another and grow in this love. It’s the virtue with which we identify ourselves. Let’s ask Jesus for the grace to love with all our heart and that we may go out to serve and open ourselves to our brothers and sisters. Happy start of the Easter Triduum! Remember there is no Resurrection without Passion.

Always remember something good is on the way!

The blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be with you and remain with you always.