THE WORD
HOLY THURSDAY, Ex12,1-8,11-14 / 1 Cor 11,23-26 / Jn 13,1-15
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 to wash 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.
IN OTHER WORDS
It is said that “Power is sweet”. This is right. Power is sweet that many, if not all, would want to have a lick of it. Others though, would want to have a monopoly of it. Like Jesus, I too, have been gifted with power. To me, power is given through my priesthood. For others, it may have been given through their inherited socio-economic and political status in their life. Others have power through deceit.
Jesus shows me that power is a gift but not because I deserve it. Power is given to me for a purpose, but not for my own bene t alone. He shows me that power is given that I may be able to truly and fully serve others even to the point of powerlessness only for others to be empowered.
The sweetness of power lies in its being shared. The strength of my power increases when I share
its benefits. When I want it all for myself power never grows. Instead, it will become like a disease, a cancerous disease that would eat up my entire soul and it will have a bitter taste.
- Fr. Patricio R. delos Reyes | Liceo del Verbo Divino-Tacloban
The Word in other words 2016
An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.
