HOMILY EASTER SEASON WEEK 04 04 – Year II
Faith Expressed in Loving Service
(Acts 13:13-25; Ps 89; Jn 13:16-20)
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“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.”
The readings today invite us to be true disciples – to deepen our faith in Jesus and express that faith through loving service.
In the first reading, St. Paul provides a succinct summary of salvation history, beginning with the sojourn in Egypt, the Passover event, the desert period, the arrival in the Promised Land, the time of judges, prophets and finally kings. He focuses on David as the one king who met God’s favor, who did God’s will, and became the ancestor of Jesus, the Savior and Messiah, whose way was prepared by John the Baptist.
All this to say Jesus is the new King David, the new temple of God, the new Israel, the Messiah and savior of the world in whom Paul would have us put our faith and trust.
In the gospel, we see tension between Jesus and Judas – the false disciple who could not accept this humble messiah and betrayed him. Jesus uses that hurtful action to teach his true disciples the deeper meaning of belief in the Messiah – we are to wash each other’s feet, even those of our enemies. It is this action of faith expressed through love as forgiveness that will truly bond the true disciples with him and with the Father through him. As Jesus puts it, “Whoever receives one whom I send receives me, and receives him who sent me.”
The German painter Fr. Seiger Köder has an amazing painting of the washing of the feet boldly linking that action with the Eucharist. Basically, he is teaching us the Eucharist is not truly celebrated unless it is lived out in loving service.
One person who saw this picture was stunned by it. She saw herself as Peter, because she was struggling with another person in her organization, wanted to do something about that difficult situation but was afraid – symbolized by the two hands of Peter, one saying “yes” and one saying “no.” The next morning, she realized she had morphed overnight into being Jesus – she knew now she had to wash the feet of that person. This she did by writing her a letter communicating with love, expressing her hurt at the way this person was treating her, as a way of trying to forgive her.
Today is an optional memorial of St. Pancras. It is believed that Pancras was a Syrian orphan brought to Rome by his uncle where both were converted to Christianity. At the age of 14, Pancras was beheaded during the Diocletian persecution of Christians, about the year 304. Pancras is a patron saint of children and adolescents
The Eucharist is a deep act of faith in Jesus as the Messiah, savior, Son of God and Risen Lord. We listen to his Word and receive his Body and Blood.
Having worshipped him, we are then sent out to spread the good news of God’s love in Jesus, and to wash the feet of all we meet.
