Holy Thursday, April 5,2007

Scripture: Exodus 12:1-8.11-14. Psalm 116:12-18. I Cor.11:23-26. John
13:1-5: Lectionary # 40.

For our Jewish brothers and sisters the feast of Passover is already within
its octave. The first celebration of it took place after the Exodus on the
14th of Nisan which is the chronology that John too gives us in his Gospel
as Jesus gathers in the room with his disciples. The first sentence
deserves our attention and meditative prayer and reflection. Let me give
you my translation based on the long years of study of John's Gospel as
well as following two of the best commentators: "Knowing well, Jesus
realized his hour had come. It was now the approach of the feast of the
Passover and Jesus' exodus from this life to that of the Father's , loved
his own beloved ones with deepest intimacy." He desired to celebrate a
last passover meal with them and is in the process of showing them how they
are his friends by taking water in a basin and washing their feet and
telling them they are not servants but friends. His gesture of hospitality
spoke for itself and opened their eyes to the love he had for them. We,
too, can enter into the intimate love of Jesus by immersing ourselves in
the scene John is narrating and making ourselves a part of that last supper
with Jesus who will be giving us his final discourse which is all about
love. Jesus celebration is one of love and thanksgiving as he realizes
that he will soon be with his Father. We are the disciples of Jesus who
also participate in this revelatory and saving action of Jesus when we
partake of the cup of salvation and receive the Bread of Life. It is both
a sacrificial banquet and a celebration of God's love manifested in Jesus'
love for us. We remain inclined at table with Jesus and let the Judas
dimensions of our life depart into the darkness outside. We wash one
another's feet as a symbol of our hospitality and of our humility as
friends to one another. Jesus is the one who first performed this loving
example of washing one another's feet so that we as his followers would not
let it pass aside as a meaningless tradition. We are no longer servants of
the leader Jesus but are his friends. Jesus has given us this great sign
of his love and mercy to sustain us through our own difficult days of
suffering, pain, death, and fear. The hope of the Resurrection assures us
that his example is to be continued till we too reach our exodus to the
Father. Amen.