Fwd: JOHN 13:16-20: THURSDAY'S GOSPEL FOR REFLECTION
Obi OBIEKWE
Subject: JOHN 13:16-20: THURSDAY'S GOSPEL FOR REFLECTION
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam (To the Greater Glory of God)
For: Thursday, May 18, 2000
From: John 13:16-20
Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet
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(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] Truly, 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 Father'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" ([Blessed] 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 Christians, 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'. However, 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!" ([Blessed] 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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+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ Set your mind on God's kingdom +
+ and His justice before everything else, +
+ and all the rest will come to you as well. +
+ (Matthew 6:33) +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++**************
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