Gospel for the Day with Pointers

Thursday, 17th April,2014

Maundy Thursday

Jn 13:4-9.12-15

Jesus got up from table, removed his outer garments and, taking a towel, wrapped it round his waist; he then poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel he was wearing. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet?’ Jesus answered, ‘At the moment you do not know what I am doing, but later you will understand.’ ‘Never!’ said Peter. ‘You shall never wash my feet.’ Jesus replied, ‘If I do not wash you, you can have no share with me.’ Simon Peter said, ‘Well then, Lord, not only my feet, but my hands and my head as well!’ 

When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments again he went back to the table. ‘Do you understand’, he said, ‘what I have done to you? You call me Master and Lord, and rightly; so I am. If I, then, the Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you must wash each other's feet. I have given you an example so that you may copy what I have done to you.’

• •Holy Thursday marks the beginning of the Easter Triduum, the mystery of our salvation. 
  
  
• •Jesus made Holy Thursday sacred because He taught us that the true meaning of Christian love must be one of selfless service.  Jesus also left us an eternal memorial of His love for us through the institution of the Sacrament of the Eucharist. 
  
  
• •May Almighty God shower His followers with torrents of grace as they ponder and pray on the Passion, Death and Resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ Our Lord.