Thursday 28 March 2024

Today is Holy Thursday, the 28th of March.

The monks of Glenstal Abbey sing, Ubi caritas est vera, Deus ibi est: Wherever love is true, God is there. This chant, sung traditionally at tonight’s Mass of the Lord’s Supper, during the washing of feet, expresses the presence of God in every act of goodness, of kindness, of love.

Ubi caritas est vera, Deus ibi est.
Congregavit nos in unum Christi amor.
Exsultemus, et in ipso jucundemur.
Timeamus, et amemus Deum vivum.
Et ex corde diligamus nos sincero.
Ubi caritas est vera, Deus ibi est.
Simul ergo cum in unum congregamur:
Ne nos mente dividamur, caveamus.
Cessent iurgia maligna, cessent lites.
Et in medio nostri sit Christus Deus.
Ubi caritas est vera, Deus ibi est.
Simul quoque cum beatis videamus,
Glorianter vultum tuum, Christe Deus:
Gaudium quod est immensum, atque probum,
Saecula per infinita saeculorum. Amen.
Where love is true, God is there.
Love of Christ has gathered us into one.
Let us rejoice in Him and be glad.
Let us fear, and let us love the living God.
And from a sincere heart let us love one.
Where love is true, God is there.
At the same time, therefore, are gathered into one:
Lest we be divided in mind, let us beware.
Let evil impulses stop, let controversy cease.
And in the midst of us be Christ our God.
Where love is true, God is there.
At the same time we see that with the saints also,
Thy face in glory, O Christ our God:
The joy that is immense and good, Unto the
World without end. Amen.




Today’s reading is from the Gospel of John.

John 13:1-15


Before the festival of the Passover, Jesus, knowing that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father, having loved those who were his in the world, loved them to the end. They were at supper, and the devil had already put it into the mind of Judas Iscariot son of Simon, to betray him. Jesus knew that the Father had put everything into his hands, and that he had come from God and was returning to God, and he got up from table, removed his outer garments and, taking a towel, wrapped it round his waist; he then poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel he was wearing.

He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, 'Lord, are you going to wash my feet?' Jesus answered, 'At the moment you do not know what I am doing, but later you will understand.' 'Never!' said Peter. 'You shall never wash my feet.' Jesus replied, 'If I do not wash you, you can have no share with me.' Simon Peter said, 'Well then, Lord, not only my feet, but my hands and my head as well!' Jesus said, 'No one who has had a bath needs washing, such a person is clean all over. You too are clean, though not all of you are.' He knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said, 'though not all of you are'.

When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments again he went back to the table. 'Do you understand', he said, 'what I have done to you? You call me Master and Lord, and rightly; so I am. If I, then, the Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you must wash each other's feet. I have given you an example so that you may copy what I have done to you.

Jesus offers his disciples a service normally performed by a man’s slave or his wife. No wonder Peter is horrified! Jesus is overturning every hierarchy of value and status. He is embodying what it means to be the Servant King. What does this scene say to you about God’s idea of authority and leadership?

We can entertain romantic notions of washing the feet of others, but in practice it can be a messy, smelly business. God invites us to follow him into the challenging side of life. This lies at the heart of the Eucharist. What is your response to this invitation?

As we hear the reading repeated, how does it touch into your understanding of the Eucharist, and of being part of the community of Jesus? What do you find yourself wanting to say?

Today is Holy Thursday, when John’s Gospel links the Eucharist with humble service. This is holiness of a very earthy sort. What feelings and prayers rise in your heart as you contemplate the scene?

We adore you O Christ and we bless you
For by your Holy Cross and resurrection, You have redeemed the world.
Amen