THURSDAY, FOURTH WEEK OF EASTERTIDE
Acts 13: 13-25 Ps 89: 2-3, 21-22, 25, 27 Jn 13: 16-20
FROM SERVANTS TO MESSENGERS
In today’s Gospel reading Jesus outlines the role that the disciples will have to take on after his death. Through his action he urges his disciples to follow in the same way and serve each other. The washing of the feet was a job reserved for the lowest even among slaves. Jesus sets an example of service: governed by love. Though discipleship is marked by service and humility, service flows not from duty but from love. And Jesus does this himself when he chooses to die on the Cross – an action some of the disciples replicate in imitation of their master. For this he came into the world so that people may experience the love of the Father.
And though he is fully aware of the betrayal that will follow, he accepts it, for he knows it is for the fulfilment of Scripture “the one who ate my food has raised his heel against me.” Anyone who accepts this discipleship accepts both Jesus and the Father who has sent him. We notice unity from the Father going through the Son and passing through the disciple to others. There is just one mission – to bring about the Kingdom, the Reign of God in the world. We see this focus on the Mission in Paul as he embarks on his first journey in the First Reading. Today’s passage speaks of “Saul also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit”. The Holy Spirit decides and acts in the person of Paul who is an instrument of God; this is evidently seen as Paul speaks. At the Synagogue Paul is invited to read Scripture and speak to the assembly as was tradition on the Sabbath. Paul takes the opportunity to introduce Jesus to the Jews by tracing His ancestry and going over the great events in the Old Testament. He sums up the salvation history by recalling John’s (the Baptist) testimony. Jesus calls us too, to keep our hopes set upon him. In the midst of confusing times or struggles that does not make any sense to us in the present time, let Jesus remind you: I AM HE!
Response: I will sing forever of your mercies, O Lord!
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