HOLY THURSDAY HOMILY — YEAR A
HOLY THURSDAY HOMILY — YEAR A
HOMILY THEME: SERVING IN LOVE AND GRACE
BY: Fr. Paul Karabari
Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-15
“He loved them to the end” (John 3:1-15)
At the Last Supper, John’s Gospel tells us that Jesus sat down and washed the disciples’ feet. It was a horrible task. After having walked the dusty streets all day in sandals, it was usually the duty of the lowest servant of the household to wash their master’s feet. The disciples might have been shocked to see their leader doing such a lowly, disgusting job. Peter even tried to protest. The minuteness with which every action of Our Lord is related is striking, for no less than seven distinct actions are mentioned: rising, laying His garments aside, taking a towel, putting it about Him, pouring water, washing the feet, wiping with a towel.
ALSO RECOMMENDED: HOLY THURSDAY HOMILY
Jesus told them, “Since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow” (John 13:14-15). He had taught humility by precept, “He that humble himself shall be exalted”; by parable, as in the story of the Pharisee and Publican; by example, as when He took a child in His arms; and now by condescension. This is the summary of His incarnation. Rising up from the Heavenly Banquet in intimate union of nature with the Father, He laid aside the garments of His glory, wrapped about His Divinity the towel of human nature which He took from Mary; poured the laver of regeneration which is His Blood shed on the Cross to redeem men and began washing the souls of His disciples and followers.
The disciples were motionless, lost in mute astonishment. When humility comes from the God-man as it does here, it is obvious that it will be through humility that men will go back to God. Peter found it hard to accept the humiliation the cross demanded. He had rebuked the cross before; now he rebuked the example of humiliation that led to the cross. Our Lord went on to tell Peter that a refusal to accept Divine cleansing is exclusion from intimacy with Him. Not to understand that Divine Love means sacrifice was to separate himself from the Master.
Think about those disciples, there was Peter, who would deny knowing Jesus; Thomas, who would doubt Him; Judas, who would betray Him; and all the others, who would desert Him in His time of need. But that didn’t stop Jesus. He was encouraging them to treat others with the same grace, humility, and forgiveness that He was showing them by washing their feet. It didn’t mean He endorsed their sins. It didn’t make it okay for Peter to deny Him, or Judas to betray Him, and so on.
When we receive God’s grace, it doesn’t mean He is turning a blind eye to our mistakes. When we follow Jesus’ example and show grace to others, it doesn’t mean we are unaware of the damage and pain that their sins have caused. Instead, grace chooses to see God’s forgiveness even more. Where there is no grace, bitterness grows. But where grace is abundant, forgiveness grows. So let us work towards developing a Christlike character by showing grace to everyone we meet, whatever the circumstances.
Jesus has shown us clearly that this is the attitude of humility that those who follow Him should adopt when they interact with others around them. Christians, especially Christian leaders, are to put aside selfish ambition and serve their community. Paul mirrors this thought in his letter to the Philippians (2:3-4), appealing to them to live with humility using the example of Jesus’ incarnation and death, “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility consider one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” We must not wait for others to serve us. We must be willing to serve them in humility. GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE. Through the merit of the passion, death, and resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ, may your household experience peace, blessing, and lasting joy through Christ Our Lord Amen. Good morning.
FOR A SIMILAR HOMILY, CLICK HERE >>>>>
Dear friends in Christ, We have been sustained by your Charity for the past 11years. Here we are saddled with annual bills. Please, be kind to us with your donation. Click on the “Donate” button to get started. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
