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As I have done, so you must do.

Justice and Peace Meditation for Holy Thursday

Readings: Exodus 12:1-8, 11 - 14 -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- John 13:1-15

Each year the Jewish people remembered their liberation from slavery in Egypt with the great Passover feast. It was during this time of the year that
Jesus went down to Jerusalem, in solidarity with all human beings, even unto death on the Cross.

At the supper that was lovingly prepared for our Lord, probably by his Mother and the other women who followed him and,
as the Gospels say, cared for his needs, he rose from the meal, took a basin and a towel, and began to wash his disciples feet.
This seems to have caused some consternation among the apostles. Washing the feet of guests seems to be the work of a servant,
perhaps even a slave. We can picture Simon Peter, pulling his feet back and saying, "Lord, you are not gonna wash my feet."
But then Jesus teaches Peter about humility, and Peter becomes willing, not only for his feet to be washed, but also for his whole body to be cleansed.

After washing their feet, Jesus reclined back at the table and asked them, "Do you understand what I just did for you?

Jesus is Master and Lord, yet he does the work of the lowest house servant. He does this as an example for us.
As Christ has done, so must we all do.

Tonight, across the world, the Church celebrates the Last Supper of our Lord. The custom of washing the feet of guests is not part of the hospitality traditions of most modern cultures, but the teachings on humility that this act conveys remain very relevant for us today in this high pressure "Winning Through Intimidation" world. Those who would be great must be the servants of all. This is as true for the Pope in Rome as it all of us today.

As Christ has done, so must we all do. 

And what, we should probably ask, has Christ done that we must also do? Well, just off the top of my head, without actually
doing any research or delving into commentaries or concordances, or consulting any actual authorities on the subject. . . I can think
of healing the sick, comforting the afflicted, afflicting the comfortable, consorting with sinners, driving bankers out of the Temple, condemning religious
and political hypocrisy, calling people to new lives of joy and peace.  He said some things like love and forgive your enemies, which
this nation completely forgot about on the morning of September 11, 2001.  We haven't had much
use for that whole Sermon on the Mount schtick for the few decades, come to think about it.

So it seems to me there is still a lot of work to be done. We might as well get busy.

Prayer intentions today:

Praxis today:

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