Always intimate gathering

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today are those that belong to the first event of the Easter Triduum.

Leonardo da Vinci, Last Supper, 1498, tempera and oil on plaster (Santa Maria della Grazie, Milan); (photo: public domain)

The passage from the Book of Exodus connects us to Passover.

* [12:1–20] This section, which interrupts the narrative of the exodus, contains later legislation concerning the celebration of Passover.

In the First Letter to the Corinthians, Paul records Jesus institution of the Eucharist at the last Supper.

* [11:23–25] This is the earliest written account of the institution of the Lord’s Supper in the New Testament. The narrative emphasizes Jesus’ action of self-giving (expressed in the words over the bread and the cup) and his double command to repeat his own action.

The Washing of the Feet of the Disciples in the Gospel of John is the model to Christians of the mode of service that Jesus calls us to live.

* [13:1–20] Washing of the disciples’ feet. This episode occurs in John at the place of the narration of the institution of the Eucharist in the synoptics. It may be a dramatization of Lk 22:27—“I am your servant.” It is presented as a “model” (“pattern”) of the crucifixion. It symbolizes cleansing from sin by sacrificial death.

Maureen McCann Waldron quotes John Kavanaugh, S.J. as she inquires about what makes us drag our feet when it comes to accepting the responsibility of being a follower of Jesus.

So we aren’t worthy.  Yet he washes our feet and puts our shoes back on sending us out into the world.   We are sent beyond this table, this dinner, to carry out his mission of love. It’s the same mission we are sent on each week when we leave Mass: to carry our faith out into the world beyond the food we received at the table of the Eucharist.  Are we worthy? In the words of Jesuit Philosopher, John Kavanaugh, S.J.,
“There is no one of us who does not need – desperately – God’s loving forgiveness.  And there is no one among us so sinful who is not worth – endlessly – such a lavish gift.”

Don Schwager quotes Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D on how Christ chose to be a servant who offered himself for us.

"Even though the man Christ Jesus, in the form of God together with the Father with whom He is one God, accepts our sacrifice, nonetheless He has chosen in the form of a servant to be the sacrifice rather than accept it. Therefore, He is the priest Himself Who presents the offering, and He Himself is what is offered." (excerpt from City of God, 10,20)

Friar Jude Winkler provides background to the life giving symbols of Passover and the context of Paul’s earliest written description of the institution of the Eucharist. Beyond memorial, we are in the Upper Room and under the Cross when we celebrate Eucharist in resonance with Jewish believers who are again present at the Passover from Egypt.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, connects with our sense of unworthiness by exploring if we have forgiven ourselves for being imperfect. He quotes Thomas Merton as he suggests that if we have not forgiven ourselves, we will likely pass on our sadness, absurdity, judgment, and futility to others. “What goes around comes around.”

As we grow in wisdom, we realize that everything belongs and everything can be received. We see that life and death are not opposites. They do not cancel one another out; neither do goodness and badness. A radical, almost nonsensical “okayness” characterizes the mature believer, which is why they are often called “holy fools.” These wise ones do not have to deny, dismiss, defy, or ignore reality anymore. What is, is gradually okay (which does not mean you do not work for justice and truth, but this must be accompanied by a primal yes!). What is, is still the greatest of teachers. At the bottom of all reality is always a deep abiding goodness, or what Merton called “the hidden wholeness.” [1]

We often stand, like Peter, in our own worldview of how things should be. We are invited to trust that Jesus continue to guide us in our struggle with the tensions identified by Father Richard in our journey.

References


(n.d.). Exodus, chapter 12 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved March 29, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/exodus/12

(n.d.). 1 Corinthians, chapter 11 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved March 29, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/bible/1Corinthians/11:23

(n.d.). John, chapter 13 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved March 29, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/john/13

(n.d.). Creighton Online Ministries - Creighton University. Retrieved March 29, 2018, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/online.html

(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved March 29, 2018, from http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/

(2017, December 30). 2018 Daily Meditations - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved March 29, 2018, from https://cac.org/2018-daily-meditations/