Thursday of Holy Week - At the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper

April 18, 2019

Readings:

First Reading: Exodus 12: 1-8, 11-14

Psalm: 116

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 11: 23-26

Gospel reading according to John 13: 1-15

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Homily

It is time for Jesus to go back to his Father.  He knew very well that this will happen on this night.  “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” (Jn. 13: 1).  This leaving from this world will happen before the Feast of the Passover.  He cannot postpone its coming death.  Yet he is bothered for he cannot leave alone his loved ones, his disciples whom he loved.  He is afraid if something might happen to them when he leaves, like what had happened to Judas Iscariot, for he loves his own and he loves them until the end of time.   

Maybe, it is plan of God that Judas became an instrument and the means for Jesus to pass from this world to Heaven or it is his own will and freedom to put to death his Lord and Master – Jesus Christ.  “The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to hand him over” (Jn. 13: 2).  Judas allowed himself to be tempted by Satan to hand over the Son of God to the authorities, so they can proceed to their plan as also planned by God our Father to save the whole nation and to gather all scattered children of Israel into the hands of God.

At supper, the Last Supper, he was with his disciples whom he loved and cannot leave alone without any knowledge of what is going on.  He made sure that before he leaves they have something they can do to one another even he is no longer with them.  He knew also it was his Father’s will and that everything had put into his hand, “siya na ang bahala” and “mangyari nawa ayon sa kalooban mo.”   “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, . . .” (Jn 13: 3).   He came from God, from eternity, so he will return back to God who lives eternal life, without beginning and without end, “the Alpha and Omega.”

To leave an example of what they should do when he is gone, “. . . he rose from supper and took off his outer garments.  He took 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” (Jn. 13: 4-5).  He washed the feet of his beloved disciples, which only slave and/or servant does it.  It has wonderful meaning in his action and it becomes a treasure, an inheritance worthy to keep and propagate – to wash the feet of everyone, to show humility and simplicity, as well as to treat everyone as equal, brothers and sisters to each and every one.  A lesson he will leave to his disciples.   

When he turned to Peter to wash his feet, Peter reacted vehemently for he knew he was not worthy sinner, as what he once said when they were able to catch plenty of fish before he became his disciple.  It is still fresh in the mind of Peter that incident that is why he reacted so much.  “He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Master, are you going to wash my feet?’  (Jn. 13: 6).  He is not willing to be washed by Jesus whom he followed as his Teacher and Master.  He felt unworthy to be served by his Master and Teacher.

Simon Peter did not understand what his Master and Teacher were doing with them.  He did not know the meaning of washing feet that was why he did not like to be washed by Jesus.  “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’.” (Jn. 13: 6-11).  Jesus for the meantime suspended the meaning of his action, “you do not understand now, but you will understand later,” but when he finished washing their feet, he then explained to them the meaning of what he did to them.  For a while he said to Peter, when he was stopping Jesus to wash his feet, that nobody has any inheritance (relationship) with him unless he washes his/her feet.  And because of this saying of Jesus and because Peter wanted to be always with Jesus (pasakop), he said not only his feet Jesus would wash but even his hands and his head to show how he loved Jesus and wanted to be always with Jesus.  Jesus restated that he who has bathed the whole body is clean and so it is, that’s why only feet need to be washed; yet metaphorically speaking, he said,” but not all.”  Not all is clean for one is already possessed by evil thoughts and plan, of dirty mind and heart, and induced by Satan.      

After washing the feet of his disciples, he put on his clothes and back to the table.  He explained to them the meaning of Washing the Feet he has done to them..  “So when he had washed their feet and put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, ‘Do you realized 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’.” (Jn. 13: 12-15). Jesus wanted them to realize what he had done since the time they were called to follow him, to imitate him up until now of all the things he did and said for them.  He enlightened their minds again by recalling by calling him teacher and master.  As Teacher and Master, they as well as we, should follow what he teaches us and as master do the same thing he does, do what he has done for us to others as our example to follow.  Jesus wanted his disciples and us to do what he did when he was still with us.  We are the ones, his followers and disciples, to continue what he has done while he was still on earth, yet he is still guiding us now that he has returned to God our Father in Heaven.