Holy Thursday Homily

We have just heard the Gospel of St. John (Jn. 13: 1-15) describe how Jesus washed the feet of his disciples.  The priest with whom I am in residence is someone who likes trivia.  And so I related to him earlier today a bit of trivia regarding foot washing that he was unaware of previously.  I told him that according to a commentary that I read in preparation for tonight’s homily, no Jewish slave could be compelled to wash someone’s feet:

At the Last Supper, Jesus would have been the “host” and the apostles the “guests.” Washing the feet of weary travelers would have been a job delegated to a gentile slave by the host.  Not even a Jewish slave would be expected to wash feet. The host of a meal would certainly not lower himself to performing this vile task himself.

Yet we see in the Gospel how Jesus humbles himself to wash the feet of His disciples.  The God of Heaven and Earth who is responsible for all of us--His creatures—being here in the first place, not only became one of us (a human being) in Jesus, but He stooped to do something that not even a Jewish slave would do.  This washing of feet is an example of how Jesus poured Himself out for us—how He extended Himself for the sake of others.  It was a profound act of humility.  No wonder Peter would object to such an action!

Many of us may face things in life that we do not like to do, but we may humble ourselves for the sake of another.  I can think of parents changing the diaper of their child.  Not exactly a pleasant task, but it is one that parents do continuously for the sake of their children.  There may be a nurse in the hospital who has to perform some unsavory tasks to help a patient.  The nurse may have to face some responsibilities that no one would necessarily choose to do, unless it were done out of duty or obligation.  By performing these actions out of love and concern for the other, such difficult tasks, like Jesus’ foot-washing, can take on a profound spiritual meaning.  They can demonstrate an outpouring and humbling of self for the sake of the other.

Back when I was a deacon, I was asked to bring Holy Communion to a person dying of AIDS.  Truth be told, I didn’t want to go because I was afraid of this deadly disease.  Eventually I realized that the right thing to do was to go and show love and compassion to this person who was made in the image and likeness of God and who deserved my love and respect.  It seems that love had the ability to conquer fear in this instance.

     

Let’s fast forward to Good Friday.  On the cross Jesus again showed us great humility.  He poured Himself out for us once again.  He extended Himself for our sake.  His self-giving was total and complete.  He exemplified true love—a love that is never selfish.  You don’t see Jesus hanging from the cross saying:  What am I getting out of this?  What’s in it for ME?  No, in humility he faced a shameful death on the cross out of love.

Today, Holy Thursday, our altar becomes the Upper Room.  We hear Jesus speak those timeless words over the bread and wine:  This is my Body.  This is my Blood.  Once again, He pours Himself out for us.  He gives Himself totally and completely to us.  He extends Himself for us.

All three actions, the foot-washing, the gift of the Holy Eucharist and Jesus’ death on the cross are intimately tied together and have their source in one act of the will:  Jesus’ Yes to His Father.  “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will.”  (Mt. 26:39)  Jesus perfectly fulfilled the will of His Father.

Finally, today’s Mass commemorates the institution of the ministerial or ordained priesthood by Jesus.  Referring to the Holy Eucharist, Jesus told His disciples to “do this in memory of me” (Lk. 22:19) and He gave them His divine authority to do so.  Priests act in the name of and with the authority of Jesus Himself.  Priests administer the sacraments in persona Christi.  This is not to say that priests are without faults or sinless.  Unfortunately, this is not the case.  Yet, if we realize that Jesus, who is God, deliberately picked a disciple who betrayed Him, a disciple who denied Him three times and others who ran away from the shame of the cross, then we may begin to understand how God paradoxically and mysteriously “chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise, and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong.” (1 Cor. 1:27)  It is because Jesus accomplishes his saving actions through us and sometimes despite us, not because of us.  It is Jesus who makes things happen, using His chosen priests with all of their flaws.  It’s all about Jesus and not really about us.  Please pray for your priests.

Now, as I prepare to wash the feet of twelve parishioners, please remember the absolute humility and self-giving that Jesus shows us by His actions.