From: John 13:16-20
Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet
(Jesus said to His disciples,) [16] “Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not
greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. [17]
If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. [18] I am not speaking
to you all; I know whom I have chosen; it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He
who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ [19] I tell you this now, before it
takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am He. [20] Tru-
ly, truly, I say to you, he who receives any man whom I send receives Me; and
he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”
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Commentary:
15-17. Jesus’ whole life was an example of service towards men, fulfilling His Fa-
ther’s will to the point of dying on the Cross. Here our Lord promises us that if we
imitate Him, our Teacher, in disinterested service (which always implies sacrifice),
we will find true happiness which no one can wrest from us (cf. 16:22; 17:13). “’I
have given you an example’, He tells His disciples after washing their feet, on the
night of the Last Supper. Let us reject from our hearts any pride, any ambition,
any desire to dominate; and peace and joy will reign around us and within us, as
a consequence of our personal sacrifice” (St. J. Escriva, “Christ Is Passing By”,
94).
18. Lifting one’s heel against someone means hitting him brutally; metaphorically,
therefore, it means violent enmity. Judas’ treachery fulfills the words of Psalm 41:
10 where the psalmist complains bitterly of a friend’s treachery. Once again the
Old Testament prefigures events which find their full expression in the New.
Through Baptism, the Christian has become a son of God and is called to share
in God’s good things, not only in Heaven but also on earth: He has received grace,
he shares in the Eucharistic Banquet..., he shares with his brethren, other Chris-
tians, the friendship of Jesus. Therefore, if a person sins who has been born again
through Baptism, in some sense his is a sort of treachery similar to Judas’. How-
ever, we have the recourse of repentance: if we trust in God’s mercy we can set
about recovering our friendship with God.
“React. Listen to what the Holy Spirit tells you: ‘”Si inimicus meus maledixisset
mihi, sustinuissem utique”’. If it were the enemy who insulted me, I could put up
with that. But you...’”tu vero homo unanimis, dux meus, et notus meus, qui simul
mecum dulces capiebas cibos”’: you, My friend, My Apostle, who sit at My table
and take sweet food with Me!” (St. J. Escriva, “The Way”, 244).
19. Jesus tells the Apostles in advance about Judas’ treachery, so that when they
see Christ’s predictions come true, they will realize He has divine knowledge and
that in Him are fulfilled the Scriptures of the Old Testament (cf. John 2:22). On the
words “I am”, cf. note on John 8:21-24.
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Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.
Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.
Scripture readings from the Jerusalem Bible by Darton, Longman & Todd
Readings at Mass
Liturgical Colour: White.
| First reading |
Acts 13:13-25 © |
| God has raised up one of David's descendants, Jesus, as Saviour |
Paul and his friends went by sea from Paphos to Perga in Pamphylia where John left them to go back to Jerusalem. The others carried on from Perga till they reached Antioch in Pisidia. Here they went to synagogue on the sabbath and took their seats. After the lessons from the Law and the Prophets had been read, the presidents of the synagogue sent them a message: ‘Brothers, if you would like to address some words of encouragement to the congregation, please do so.’ Paul stood up, held up a hand for silence and began to speak:
‘Men of Israel, and fearers of God, listen! The God of our nation Israel chose our ancestors, and made our people great when they were living as foreigners in Egypt; then by divine power he led them out, and for about forty years took care of them in the wilderness. When he had destroyed seven nations in Canaan, he put them in possession of their land for about four hundred and fifty years. After this he gave them judges, down to the prophet Samuel. Then they demanded a king, and God gave them Saul son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin. After forty years, he deposed him and made David their king, of whom he approved in these words, “I have selected David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, who will carry out my whole purpose.” To keep his promise, God has raised up for Israel one of David’s descendants, Jesus, as Saviour, whose coming was heralded by John when he proclaimed a baptism of repentance for the whole people of Israel. Before John ended his career he said, “I am not the one you imagine me to be; that one is coming after me and I am not fit to undo his sandal.”’
| Responsorial Psalm |
| Psalm 88(89):2-3,21,22,25,27 © |
I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord.
or
Alleluia!
I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord;
through all ages my mouth will proclaim your truth.
Of this I am sure, that your love lasts for ever,
that your truth is firmly established as the heavens.
I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord.
or
Alleluia!
I have found David my servant
and with my holy oil anointed him.
My hand shall always be with him
and my arm shall make him strong.
I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord.
or
Alleluia!
My truth and my love shall be with him;
by my name his might shall be exalted.
He will say to me: ‘You are my father,
my God, the rock who saves me.’
I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord.
or
Alleluia!
| Gospel Acclamation |
cf.Rv1:5 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
You, O Christ, are the faithful witness,
the First-born from the dead,
you have loved us and have washed away our sins with your blood.
Alleluia!
| Whoever welcomes the one I send welcomes me |
After he had washed the feet of his disciples, Jesus said to them:
‘I tell you most solemnly,
no servant is greater than his master,
no messenger is greater than the man who sent him.
‘Now that you know this, happiness will be yours if you behave accordingly. I am not speaking about all of you: I know the ones I have chosen; but what scripture says must be fulfilled: Someone who shares my table rebels against me.
‘I tell you this now, before it happens,
so that when it does happen
you may believe that I am He.
I tell you most solemnly,
whoever welcomes the one I send welcomes me,
and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.’