Gospel: 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.”
Reflection
As I reflect on this scripture I think of all the people we come across that serve us: the people who serve us at restaurants, the people who serve us when we are sick, and even our parents, spouses or our children. We live in a time were service can be seen all around us.
Sometimes we need to be called to serve others, not just because they need something, but because it is the right thing to do. A restaurant server might be paid to serve, but how they serve comes from who they are. A doctor might treat us, but healing that comes from compassion, goes above the job of a doctor.
How can we go beyond the measure of just washing the feet of Simon Peter and wash his hands as well? I know I can do better, do more, help more often. Now, I need to put it into action.
Associate Rosy Hartz, St. Viator Parish, Las Vegas, 2010, 2011, 2012 Viatorian Youth Congress Delegate Leader
- Being Viatorian is important to me because it not only shapes my identity but it helps me to shape the work I do in all areas of my life.
- The one thing I am doing this Lenten season to grow closer to God is to listen with an open heart to all conversations I have with others. Sometimes, just listening to what someone else has going on in their life helps me to see the many way God surrounds us.