He had the power of laying down his life; we by contrast cannot choose the length of our lives, and we die even if it is against our will. He, by dying, destroyed death in himself; we are freed from death only in his death. -- Saint Augustine

Holy Thursday-Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper

Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14

Psalm 116:12-13, 15-16bc, 17-18

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

J ohn 13:1-15 Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. (2) And during supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, (3) Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, (4) rose from supper, laid aside his garments, and girded himself with a towel. (5) Then he poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which he was girded. (6) He came to Simon Peter; and Peter said to him, "Lord, do you wash my feet?" (7) Jesus answered him, "What I am doing you do not know now, but afterward you will understand." (8) Peter said to him, "You shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part in me." (9) Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!" (10) Jesus said to him, "He who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but he is clean all over; and you are clean, but not every one of you." (11) For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, "You are not all clean." (12) When he had washed their feet, and taken his garments, and resumed his place, he said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? (13) You call me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. (14) If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. (15) For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.

Meditation by Don Schwager

D oes your love waver when you encounter bitter disappointments and injury from others? As Jesus' hour of humiliation draws near he reveals to his disciples the supreme humility which shaped the love he had for them. He stoops to perform a menial task reserved for servants – the washing of smelly, dirty feet.

In stooping to serve his disciples Jesus knew he would be betrayed by one of them and that the rest would abandon him through disloyalty. Such knowledge could have easily led to bitterness or hatred. Jesus met the injury of betrayal and disloyalty with the greatest humility and supreme love. Jesus loved his disciples to the very end, even when they failed him and forsook him. The Lord loves each of us unconditionally. His love has power to set us free to serve others with Christ-like compassion and humility. Does the love of Christ rule in your heart, thoughts, intentions and actions?

Saint Augustine in his sermon for this day, wrote: “He had the power of laying down his life; we by contrast cannot choose the length of our lives, and we die even if it is against our will. He, by dying, destroyed death in himself; we are freed from death only in his death. His body did not see corruption; our body will see corruption and only then be clothed through him in incorruption at the end of the world. He needed no help from us in saving us; without him we can do nothing. He gave himself to us as the vine to the branches; apart from him we cannot have life. Finally, even if brothers die for brothers, yet no martyr by shedding his blood brings forgiveness for the sins of his brothers, as Christ brought forgiveness to us. In this he gave us, not an example to imitate but a reason for rejoicing. Inasmuch, then, as they shed their blood for their brothers, the martyrs provided “the same kind of meal” as they had received at the Lord’s table.   Let us then love one another as Christ also loved us and gave himself up for us.”

"Lord Jesus, your love conquers all and never fails. Help me to love others freely, with heart-felt compassion , kindness and goodness. Where there is injury, may I sow peace rather than strife."

Supplementary Reading

Suffering for the Salvation of Another

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. ~ Matthew 5:11

R ecently, a friend told a true story about one of his closest friends who experienced great suffering for the soul of his persecutor. This man worked on a cargo ship. His boss was the captain. This friend was a committed Christian who shared his faith with others and was a good worker. One day the friend led the sea captain's girlfriend to Christ. The sea captain already hated and ridiculed the Christian worker because of his faith in Christ. When his girlfriend came to Christ, she stopped sleeping with the captain. The captain blamed the Christian man for the change in his girlfriend. One day he entered the restaurant where the Christian man was having lunch. He walked over to his table and began hurling obscenities and began beating him. The Christian man simply tried to defend himself but did not fight back. The captain kept beating him until eventually the man lay on the floor bleeding.

Two men entered the restaurant and saw what was taking place. They jumped the sea captain and took him outside and began beating him. The sea captain was beaten so badly that he needed immediate medical attention. The Christian worker saw the condition of the sea captain, came to his aid, and began helping him. The sea captain was so moved that this man could do this after he had literally beaten him bloody that he began to weep, not understanding what could move a man to have such love in the face of being beaten. The sea captain accepted Jesus at that moment.

The Bible tells us that while we were yet sinners Christ came and paid our penalty so that we might live eternally. Many in the workplace have never known the love of Christ. You might be the only one they ever meet who can introduce them to this love. Ask God to show you how to love the unlovable in your workplace today. --OS Hillman

For meditation of the previous days/months , please click any of the following links:
http://his-ways-better-than-our-ways.blogspot.com/
http://www.mabuhayradio.com/sections/the-daily-bread.html
http://butuanglobalforum.org/cgi-bin/dboard/YaBB.pl?num=1229339492/220

• 04/05/2010 01:37 - Apr 6, 2010 - Tuesday Meditation (That Your Joy Maybe Full)
• 04/04/2010 01:52 - Apr 5, 2010 - Monday Meditation (Do Not Be Afraid! Tell the World... JESUS Lives!)
• 04/03/2010 00:59 - Apr 4, 2010 - Resurrection Sunday (Tell the World that JESUS LIVES!)
• 04/02/2010 05:31 - Apr 3, 2010 - Saturday Meditation (From the Grave to the Sky, LORD I LIFT YOUR NAME ON HIGH!)
• 03/31/2010 21:25 - Apr 2, 2010 - Good Friday Meditation (Triumphant Defeats!)

• 03/30/2010 02:50 - Mar 31, 2010 - Wednesday Meditation (Blessed with Jesus' Friendship!)
• 03/29/2010 03:40 - Mar 30, 2010 - Tuesday Meditation (Peter and Judas...)
• 03/28/2010 05:32 - Mar 29, 2010 - Monday Meditation (Extravagant Love!)
• 03/26/2010 22:56 - Mar 28, 2010 - Sunday Meditation (Jesus! King of Kings & Lord of Lords!)
• 03/26/2010 03:37 - Mar 27, 2010 - Saturday Meditation (Start Seeking Him... Now!)