Wednesday, March 31, 2010
HOLY THURSDAY
HOLY THURSDAY
EXODUS 12:1-8, 11-14
Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, 'This month must be the first
of all the months for you, the first month of your year. Speak to the
whole community of Israel and say, "On the tenth day of this month
each man must take an animal from the flock for his family: one animal
for each household. If the household is too small for the animal, he
must join with his neighbour nearest to his house, depending on the
number of persons. When you choose the animal, you will take into
account what each can eat. It must be an animal without blemish, a
male one year old; you may choose it either from the sheep or from the
goats. You must keep it till the fourteenth day of the month when the
whole assembly of the community of Israel will slaughter it at
twilight. Some of the blood must then be taken and put on both door-
posts and the lintel of the houses where it is eaten. That night, the
flesh must be eaten, roasted over the fire; it must be eaten with
unleavened bread and bitter herbs. This is how you must eat it: with a
belt round your waist, your sandals on your feet and your staff in
your hand. You must eat it hurriedly: it is a Passover in Yahweh's
honour. That night, I shall go through Egypt and strike down all the
first-born in Egypt, man and beast alike, and shall execute justice on
all the gods of Egypt, I, Yahweh! The blood will be a sign for you on
the houses where you are. When I see the blood I shall pass over you,
and you will escape the destructive plague when I strike Egypt. This
day must be commemorated by you, and you must keep it as a feast in
Yahweh's honour. You must keep it as a feast-day for all generations;
this is a decree for all time.
1 CORINTHIANS 11:23-26
For the tradition I received from the Lord and also handed on to you
is that on the night he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread,
and after he had given thanks, he broke it, and he said, 'This is my
body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.' And in the same
way, with the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant
in my blood. Whenever you drink it, do this as a memorial of me.'
Whenever you eat this bread, then, and drink this cup, you are
proclaiming the Lord's death until he comes.
JOHN 13:1-15
Before the festival of the Passover, Jesus, knowing that his hour had
come to pass from this world to the Father, having loved those who
were his in the world, loved them to the end. They were at supper, and
the devil had already put it into the mind of Judas Iscariot son of
Simon, to betray him. Jesus knew that the Father had put everything
into his hands, and that he had come from God and was returning to
God, and he got up from table, removed his outer garments and, taking
a towel, wrapped it round his waist; he then poured water into a basin
and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel
he was wearing. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, 'Lord, are
you going to wash my feet?' Jesus answered, 'At the moment you do not
know what I am doing, but later you will understand.' 'Never!' said
Peter. 'You shall never wash my feet.' Jesus replied, 'If I do not
wash you, you can have no share with me.' Simon Peter said, 'Well
then, Lord, not only my feet, but my hands and my head as well!' Jesus
said, 'No one who has had a bath needs washing, such a person is clean
all over. You too are clean, though not all of you are.' He knew who
was going to betray him, and that was why he said, 'though not all of
you are'. When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments
again he went back to the table. 'Do you understand', he said, 'what I
have done to you? You call me Master and Lord, and rightly; so I am.
If I, then, the Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you must wash
each other's feet. I have given you an example so that you may copy
what I have done to you.
REFLECTION
We live in a modern age where slavery has been abolished in most parts
of the world. That's why it's quite difficult to relate with the
apostles' reaction to Our Lord's example of washing their feet. This
was a task for only the lowliest of castes. This was no job to be
under taken by their Master and Leader.
Still, Jesus shows us that we need to place the towel of humility
around our waists. We pray for the grace of courage to get down on our
knees and look after the basic needs of our brothers and sisters. Much
effort will be required in removing the grime and dust from the tired
feet of our brethren. This is the example of servant leadership Our
Lord presents to us. Hopefully, we will continue to follow that model
up to these present times.
Not that many political figures are willing to experience hunger and
desperation that so many of our fellow countrymen face on a day-to-day
basis. The best way to relate to those who have nothing is to enter
into that reality as well. Jesuit novices undergo "trials" wherein the
poor community they are introduced to do not treat them as future
priests. Rather, they are encouraged to eat what is offered and to
labor as everyone else does, whether these young men find themselves
in a struggling fishing village or a humid factory setting.
Jesus invites us to continually empathize with those who struggle
daily to make ends meet. And by following what he did, if we have that
compassionate concern to wash one another's feet, perhaps some
difference can be felt in correcting unjust social structures. Let us
keep reflecting on how Jesus shows us what it takes to truly be of
service in His kingdom.
PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Jessy
- Jo Marcelo
- Jun Lee
- Cesar Galang
… for the eternal repose of the soul of
- Gaudencio Ogatis
Eternal rest grant unto him and may perpetual light shine upon him.
May he and all the dearly departed rest in peace.
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Lorraine Ngo Sy
- In Memoriam (+): Yu Ba Lee+
… for the healing and peace of all families
Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers
and for those who need our prayers the most.
Have a good day!
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