i am happy that so many people will be able to attend the feast of the last supper tonight in parishes around the world. it seem like we are coming out of the pandemic restrictions so there is more of an openness to venture out– without masks! tonight is one of my favorite masses of the year.
i have been thinking a lot about the second chapter of pope francis’ encyclical fratelli tutti. the chapter is a very engaging running commentary about the parable of the good samaritan. so in my mind, i imagine how the good samaritan treated the injured man on the road to jerico. he was the neighbor who chose love; jesus tells us, “go and do likewise.”
he followed jesus teaching of “washing feet” by not passing by the man in his need; he acted with love. it is no wonder that in st augustine’s allegorical interpretation of the parable that Christ is the good samaritan. when jesus washed the disciples’ feet, it helped them experience the service of the neighbor in a fresh perspective.
the good samaritan shows up at the last supper and gives jesus’ followers a model of love to live.
these two biblical accounts brings together the dance steps of loving actions-service-neighbor. pope francis would say that this dance brings about loving encounters with those on the margins so that we may live our human dignity in community.
at the mass of the last supper tonight we celebrate jesus’ model of love through the power of eucharist. tonight is another opportunity to respond “amen” to God’s grace for us all.
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FYI, here my previous two posts about the last supper-holy thursday
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Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end. The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand him over. So, during supper, fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God, he rose from supper and took off his outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel around his waist. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Master, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.” Jesus said to him, “Whoever has bathed* has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over; so you are clean, but not all.” For he knew who would betray him; for this reason, he said, “Not all of you are clean.” So when he had washed their feet [and] put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, “Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do. Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it. (john 13 1-17)
Art and Sol Podcast ... Random Musings 