Thursday 12 May 2022

Today is Thursday the 12th of May in the fourth week of Easter.

The monks of Pluscarden Abbey sing Ego vos elegi: ‘I have chosen you out of the world, so that you might go out and bear fruit, fruit that will last.’ As I listen to this chant, I remind myself that God calls me, calls me by my name. However unsuitable or unworthy I may think I am, God has chosen me.
Ego vos elegi de mundo,
ut eatis, et fructum afferatis:
et fructus vester maneat,
alleluja.

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of John.
John 13:16-20
Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But it is to fulfil the scripture, “The one who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.” I tell you this now, before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am he. Very truly, I tell you, whoever receives one whom I send receives me; and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.’

Imagine this moment… Jesus has washed his disciples’ feet. A new and perhaps strange act…a new lesson… a new model of love. Jesus says, “If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.” How do you hear Jesus saying these words to you today? Where in your life are you doing as Jesus has shown?
However, the scene unravels a more solemn atmosphere… some tension at the words “I am not speaking of all of you”. What might you feel if you placed yourself in the position of the disciples at this moment? Confused? Nervous? Curious?

As you listen again, try and get a sense of how Jesus speaks to them…
In these closing moments, talk to Jesus about anything you have particularly experienced in this scene or time of prayer…

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.