From The American Bible Society:
April 21, 2011
Holy Thursday. Mass of the Lord’s Supper
I HAVE SET AN EXAMPLE FOR YOU…
John 13:1-15 (Good News Translation)
1 It was now the day before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. He had always loved those in the world who were his own, and he loved them to the very end. 2 Jesus and his disciples were at supper. The Devil had already put into the heart of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, the thought of betraying Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him complete power; he knew that he had come from God and was going to God. 4 So he rose from the table, took off his outer garment, and tied a towel around his waist. 5 Then he poured some water into a washbasin and began to wash the disciples' feet and dry them with the towel around his waist. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Are you going to wash my feet, Lord?” 7 Jesus answered him, “You do not understand now what I am doing, but you will understand later.” 8 Peter declared, “Never at any time will you wash my feet!” “If I do not wash your feet,” Jesus answered, “you will no longer be my disciple.” 9 Simon Peter answered, “Lord, do not wash only my feet, then! Wash my hands and head, too!” 10 Jesus said, “Those who have taken a bath are completely clean and do not have to wash themselves, except for their feet. All of you are clean—all except one. ” ( 11 Jesus already knew who was going to betray him; that is why he said, “All of you, except one, are clean.”) 12 After Jesus had washed their feet, he put his outer garment back on and returned to his place at the table. “Do you understand what I have just done to you?” he asked. 13 “You call me Teacher and Lord, and it is right that you do so, because that is what I am. 14 I, your Lord and Teacher, have just washed your feet. You, then, should wash one another's feet. 15 I have set an example for you, so that you will do just what I have done for you.
Other Readings: Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14; Psalm 116:12-13, 15-18; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26;
Lectio
Today we celebrate the institution of the Eucharist. The context, as usual, provides us with the key to understand the meaning of our celebration. The origin of this solemn meal, let us recall it, was the liberation of the Hebrews from their slavery in Egypt. The Lord ‘passed’ over their houses and the blood of the lamb that marked their doorposts was the sign that saved their lives. During that liturgical supper which Jesus and his disciples celebrated as observant Jews, the Lord performed a new rite that would become the centre of all Christian celebrations. A change took place: Jesus made the bread and wine eaten in the meal, become his body and blood. Signs of his own death and of the new covenant sealed on the cross, hence, his command, to repeat the act, until he would return in glory. From Pentecost onwards, the Eucharistic rite -together with baptism- became the central celebration of the Christian community. In spite of the importance of this event, it is remarkable to notice that there is a deep difference between the account in John’s gospel and those of the Synoptic gospels and 1 Corinthians. That difference reflects two approaches to the same reality. A serious problem had arisen in the small Christian communities: very soon, that memorial of the new covenant and sign of communion and fraternity became a new rite, celebrated routinely or, even worse, on some occasions was a sign of division and lack of brotherly unity. Perhaps that is the reason why John does not mention it in his account of the Last Supper. He records, instead, how Jesus washed his disciples’ feet. It seems he wants to underline the deep link between a liturgical celebration and the reality of Christian service. Words play an important role here. Instead of saying, just like the other apostles report, ‘Do this in memory of me’, relating this order to a ritual, John underlines the spirit of service: what the disciples must do is ‘wash one another’s feet’, following Jesus’ example. Thus, the link between the Eucharist and everyday life is to be found in the narrative of the multiplication of bread and fish: John uses there the words with which the Synoptic gospels describe Jesus’ gestures during the Last Supper: ‘He took the bread, gave thanks to God, and distributed it to the people’. The bread they all share becomes Christ himself: ‘I am the living bread that came down from heaven‘… ‘’it is my flesh, which I give so that the world may live’ (John 6:1-58). In the end, the real Eucharist goes beyond any rite or celebration: service and love are the only and new commandments Jesus gave his disciples: ‘As I have loved you, so you must love one another’ (John 13:34).
Meditatio
The Eucharist is a sign of communion, no only with the Lord, but also with our brothers and sisters: are you aware of the ‘social’ consequences that communion should have in your everyday life? Are your relations to others a ‘sacramental’ sign of your communion with the Lord? Does sharing the Eucharistic bread mean sharing your time, your resources and possessions with others?
Oratio
Today, pray especially for yourself: that the Lord may open your eyes to the suffering and needs of those close to you; that he may also grant you a generous spirit of mercy to serve them just as He did.
Contemplatio
‘He had always loved those in the World who were his own, and he loved them to the very end’ (John 13:1). So much did he love them, that he devoted a long prayer for them before he was led to his death. Read chapter 17 of John’s gospel and try to grasp the depth of Jesus’ love, not only for those who were close to him, but also for all of us who are his disciples now.
Reflections written by Rev. Fr. Mariano Perrón Director of Inter-Religious Affairs Archdiocese of Madrid, Spain
© 2010 American Bible Society. All Rights Reserved. 1865 Broadway, New York, NY 10023-7505
April 21, 2011
Holy Thursday. Mass of the Lord’s Supper
I HAVE SET AN EXAMPLE FOR YOU…
John 13:1-15 (Good News Translation)
1 It was now the day before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. He had always loved those in the world who were his own, and he loved them to the very end. 2 Jesus and his disciples were at supper. The Devil had already put into the heart of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, the thought of betraying Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him complete power; he knew that he had come from God and was going to God. 4 So he rose from the table, took off his outer garment, and tied a towel around his waist. 5 Then he poured some water into a washbasin and began to wash the disciples' feet and dry them with the towel around his waist. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Are you going to wash my feet, Lord?” 7 Jesus answered him, “You do not understand now what I am doing, but you will understand later.” 8 Peter declared, “Never at any time will you wash my feet!” “If I do not wash your feet,” Jesus answered, “you will no longer be my disciple.” 9 Simon Peter answered, “Lord, do not wash only my feet, then! Wash my hands and head, too!” 10 Jesus said, “Those who have taken a bath are completely clean and do not have to wash themselves, except for their feet. All of you are clean—all except one. ” ( 11 Jesus already knew who was going to betray him; that is why he said, “All of you, except one, are clean.”) 12 After Jesus had washed their feet, he put his outer garment back on and returned to his place at the table. “Do you understand what I have just done to you?” he asked. 13 “You call me Teacher and Lord, and it is right that you do so, because that is what I am. 14 I, your Lord and Teacher, have just washed your feet. You, then, should wash one another's feet. 15 I have set an example for you, so that you will do just what I have done for you.
Other Readings: Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14; Psalm 116:12-13, 15-18; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26;
Lectio
Today we celebrate the institution of the Eucharist. The context, as usual, provides us with the key to understand the meaning of our celebration. The origin of this solemn meal, let us recall it, was the liberation of the Hebrews from their slavery in Egypt. The Lord ‘passed’ over their houses and the blood of the lamb that marked their doorposts was the sign that saved their lives. During that liturgical supper which Jesus and his disciples celebrated as observant Jews, the Lord performed a new rite that would become the centre of all Christian celebrations. A change took place: Jesus made the bread and wine eaten in the meal, become his body and blood. Signs of his own death and of the new covenant sealed on the cross, hence, his command, to repeat the act, until he would return in glory. From Pentecost onwards, the Eucharistic rite -together with baptism- became the central celebration of the Christian community. In spite of the importance of this event, it is remarkable to notice that there is a deep difference between the account in John’s gospel and those of the Synoptic gospels and 1 Corinthians. That difference reflects two approaches to the same reality. A serious problem had arisen in the small Christian communities: very soon, that memorial of the new covenant and sign of communion and fraternity became a new rite, celebrated routinely or, even worse, on some occasions was a sign of division and lack of brotherly unity. Perhaps that is the reason why John does not mention it in his account of the Last Supper. He records, instead, how Jesus washed his disciples’ feet. It seems he wants to underline the deep link between a liturgical celebration and the reality of Christian service. Words play an important role here. Instead of saying, just like the other apostles report, ‘Do this in memory of me’, relating this order to a ritual, John underlines the spirit of service: what the disciples must do is ‘wash one another’s feet’, following Jesus’ example. Thus, the link between the Eucharist and everyday life is to be found in the narrative of the multiplication of bread and fish: John uses there the words with which the Synoptic gospels describe Jesus’ gestures during the Last Supper: ‘He took the bread, gave thanks to God, and distributed it to the people’. The bread they all share becomes Christ himself: ‘I am the living bread that came down from heaven‘… ‘’it is my flesh, which I give so that the world may live’ (John 6:1-58). In the end, the real Eucharist goes beyond any rite or celebration: service and love are the only and new commandments Jesus gave his disciples: ‘As I have loved you, so you must love one another’ (John 13:34).
Meditatio
The Eucharist is a sign of communion, no only with the Lord, but also with our brothers and sisters: are you aware of the ‘social’ consequences that communion should have in your everyday life? Are your relations to others a ‘sacramental’ sign of your communion with the Lord? Does sharing the Eucharistic bread mean sharing your time, your resources and possessions with others?
Oratio
Today, pray especially for yourself: that the Lord may open your eyes to the suffering and needs of those close to you; that he may also grant you a generous spirit of mercy to serve them just as He did.
Contemplatio
‘He had always loved those in the World who were his own, and he loved them to the very end’ (John 13:1). So much did he love them, that he devoted a long prayer for them before he was led to his death. Read chapter 17 of John’s gospel and try to grasp the depth of Jesus’ love, not only for those who were close to him, but also for all of us who are his disciples now.
Reflections written by Rev. Fr. Mariano Perrón Director of Inter-Religious Affairs Archdiocese of Madrid, Spain
© 2010 American Bible Society. All Rights Reserved. 1865 Broadway, New York, NY 10023-7505
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