Lenten Meditations – 10 March – With Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900) Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“The Sacred Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ”
“Short Meditations for Lent”
From “The Devout Year”
By Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)
Monday of the First Week in Lent
The Washing of the Feet
Read St John xiii:2-20
[Posting at the end]
+1. When the paschal supper was finished, Our Lord rose from table, laid aside His upper garment and girding Himself with a towel, He filled a basin with water and went from one to another of the Apostles, washing with His Ssacred Hands the feet of each.
This act was intended to teach us the happiness of performing menial services for those around us. To wait upon others, especially on our inferiors, for Christ’s Sake, is far more honourable, than to be waited upon by them; to make ourselves the servants of others, is far more noble than to be served by them.
Is this the principle on which I act?
+2. In this act were combined, the two virtues which are most prominent in Our Lord’s Life on earth – charity and humility.
Charity takes a pleasure in everything which promotes the happiness or the comfort of our fellowmen because they are the brethren of Christ.
Humility takes a pleasure in whatever puts us in an inferior
position, in one to which no worldly honour or dignity attaches but rather, contempt and humiliation.
How sadly wanting I am in these virtues! I dislike charity if it costs me anything and I positively hate to be humbled, to be
despised by men.
+3. Yet Christ’s words are true the disciple is not greater than His Master.
If our Divine Master was glorious in the sight of the Angels
as He stooped to wash the Apostles ‘ feet, our road to glory must be, by stooping, by ministering in all humility, to others. We never can be as great as our Master. We must take care lest our selfishness and pride, place us in direct contrast with the Son of God.
John 13:2-20
[2] And when supper was ended, (the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him,) [3] Knowing that the Father had given Him all things into His Hands and that, He came from God and goeth to God; [4] He riseth from supper and layeth aside His garments and having taken a towel, girded Himself. [5] After that, He putteth water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples and to wipe them with the towel wherewith He was girded.
[6] He cometh, therefore, to Simon Peter. And Peter saith to Him: Lord, dost thou wash my feet? [7] Jesus answered and said to him: What I do thou knowest not now but thou shalt know hereafter. [8] Peter saith to Him: Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him: If I wash thee not, thou shalt have no part with Me. [9] Simon Peter saith to hHm: Lord, not only my feet but also my hands and my head. [10] Jesus saith to him: He that is washed, needeth not but to wash his feet but is clean wholly. And you are clean but not all.
[11] For he knew. who he was that would betray him, therefore. he said: You are not all clean. [12] Then, after He had washed their feet and taken His garments, being sat down again, He said to them: Know you what I have done to you? [13] You call Me Master,and Lord and you say well, for so I Am. [14] If then I, betoo, ought to wash one another’s feet. [15] For I have given you an example, that as I have done to you, so you do also.
[16] Amen, amen I say to you: The servant is not greater than his Lord; neither is the Apostle greater than He Who sent him. [17] If you know these things, you shall be blessed if you do them. [18] I speak not of you all, I know whom I have chosen. But that the scripture may be fulfilled – He who eateth bread with Me, shall lift up his heel against Me. [19] At present I tell you, before it come to pass that, when it shall come to pass, you may believe that I Am He. [20] Amen, amen I say to you, he who receiveth whomsoever I send, receiveth Me and he who receiveth Me, receiveth Him Whp sent Me. [John 13:2-20]
AnaStpaul 