Holy Thursday

Descending to Feet

The Last Supper picture of Jesus washing feet describes the process of incarnation, of spirit becoming flesh.

Jesus is aware "that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God" (John 13:2). This is his interior God-consciousness, in common with God and ready, in his very next action, to manifest God in whatever he does. All things are in his hands. He takes off his outer garment to reveal the inner self and, behold, he wraps a towel around his waist. The one whom the disciples know as Lord and Teacher is, in truth, a servant. Then he pours water into a basin. "Pouring" is how Spirit feels as it becomes flesh. It flows, coming from the inside to the outside. Then Jesus completes the action by washing and drying his disciple's feet. In other words, he refreshes their feet so that they might continue the journey of life.

What Jesus does, we can also do. We can share in his incarnation dynamics. First, we must realize that we are in communion with God and commissioned to manifest God's love in everything we do. Second, we must choose acts that have this revelatory potential, acts that get people back on the path to living the gospel. third, we must do in the flesh what we have conceived in the Spirit.

This may sound like drudgery and sacrifice, but it is not. Once you know you are a spiritual being becoming flesh through special acts of service, you will have found the joy that cannot be taken from you.

Daybreaks, Daily Reflections for Lent and Easter
by John Shea

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Thanks be to God!

Taking Up the Cross

Take a walk with me as we journey through this last Friday before Holy Week begins. The last day before the mundane days of Lent take on the true celebration of who we are as Catholic Christians. The reason we are who we are, the reason we endeavor to walk and live this life of holiness, though it be fraught with pot holes, road blocks, greed, and selfishness. Please reflect on the words of John Shea.

Taking Up the Cross

Taking up the cross comes with the territory of discipleship. Once we begin to be as compassionate and inclusive as Jesus, we rankle other people. They make moves against us and we begin to suffer.

At this moment, we are invited to adopt an attitude toward our suffering. Here is a teenager's rendition of how Jesus suggests we should act:

Jesus was no dummy. He sees the cross coming. Look at what he was doing! He's touching qll the unclean people, eating with outcasts, breaking up the temple money game, criticizing corruption. He wants a better world, but a lot of people are doing real well in the world as it is. They are not going to give up and fade away. This is notnew.

Now Peter--there's a dummy. Jesus lays it out for yim--the cross, the resurrection, the whoe thing--and he says, "No way."

Jesus is not happy.

So Jesus says to him, "Not only for me but you too, Peter."

So now Peter is not happy.

So Jesus tells him--and here's the thing I like--Jesus tells him, "Don't let them lay the cross on you, Peter. Take it up. Don't let them lay it on you. Take it up."

Wow! You gotta love Jesus for that.

When we know the price of following Jesus and are willing to pay it, the inevitable sufferings do not make us victims. We become provocative, taking into ourselves the cost of discipleship.

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Engage the struggle for a better world;
embrace the suffering that comes with it.

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Enough said!! Have a blessed and holy Friday!

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Thanks be to GOD!!!