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23rd March 1997

At the foot of the cross

The Holy Week of Christianity begins with Palm Sunday today, followed by Holy Thursday, Good Friday and then the greatest day in Christian history - Easter Sunday. Much would be said about Good Friday and Easter, so it might be appropriate to reflect on the significance of Holy Thursday when millions all over the world commemorate the solemn day on which Jesus Christ introduced what is known as the Holy Eucharistor the Holy Mass.

At the end of every Eucharistic celebration, we are told - "Go the Mass is ended, take his word to others as you heard it spoken to you; go the Mass is ended, fill the world with love."In the passage from the mighty Prophet Isiah and repeated by Jesus Christ in the third reading we are told what is the word we need to take to others -

"The Spirit of the Lord is now upon you to mend the broken hearts and set the captives free, to open prison doors and make the blind to see". The Mass is completed only when that mission is started. Otherwise it might be just ritual or external obligation.

It is indeed inspiring that at least in the Holy Thursday Mass we see the practical dimension through which we are called upon to fulfil what the Mass really should mean. That is the washing of the feet. For practical reasons perhaps, that important aspect of the Eucharist celebration is not seen on other days of the year and may be we should ask why the washing of the feet is not done more often perhaps even on every Sunday.

St.John in fact thought the feet washing dimension was so important that he made little or no reference to other aspects of the Mass as we know it today.

A deep reflection on John Chapter 13 would reveal some challenging if not shattering dimensions of what every follower of Jesus Christ is essentially called upon to be and do. First of all we see how Jesus Christ was able to become a servant leader, lead by example and wash the feet even of those who were going to let him down, deny, desert or betray Him.

Experientially Jesus Christ was convinced that he was the beloved son of the Abba Father, that his full potential and highest aspirations would be fulfilled when he did the will of the Father (though often he did not understand) and that he was going to the Father. Perhaps on the night before his agony Jesus Christ may not have underhe Church.

Jesus Christ never proclaimed himself to be a leader, but billions revere him as the king of kings because he was a leader who led by example. He practised first whatever he preached and preached only what he practised. We see that in all the events and dimensions of his life. Ultimately when he preached, 'The greatest love is to give up your life for your fellowmen', He said it with the conviction that he was ready and willing to die on the cross.

Let us open our lives to the Lord and permit him to wash our feet this week. That is to minister to us, to serve us even as our feet that tread the path of life are muddled and dirty with sin , selfishness, petty ambitions and desires. We are ashamed to permit the Lord to wash our feet, we want to stand up and say "No" like Peter, even run away from his loving ministry. Let us deliberately and humbly submit to his unconditional ministry. Then we will see a miracle taking place within us. Our own hardness of heart is melted by the fire of this love, it washes away our fear that forces us to be selfish, it fills our emptiness within with living water that we no longer have to be compulsively possessive, it frees us from the need to dominate and even permits us to become vulnerable to others, taking the risk of being hurt and wounded as we experience a greater love than our pain, working within. Louis Benedict

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