18 April 2019 - as I have loved you

Readings for the Evening Mass

(Audio)

Do you realize what I have done for you?

We say we realize what Jesus has done for us. But how deeply do we truly realize it? Jesus emptied himself to come in human likeness (see Philippians 2:17) and washed us in the waters of baptism. He himself is the lamb whose sacrificial blood covers our hearts so that our enemy will not destroy us. He himself is the unleavened bread we eat. If we are not washed we will have no inheritance with Jesus. If his blood does not cover us than death will have the last word in our lives. Only the bread he gives can strengthen us for the journey.

Do you realize what I have done for you?

It seems that we need a deeper realization, LORD, of all that you have done for us.

You call me 'teacher' and 'master,'  and rightly so, for indeed I am.
If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, 
you ought to wash one another's feet.

Jesus, you want to inspire our love for you and for others by the love with which you first love us. We are not meant to just receive for ourselves indefinitely. We don't need to create a holding pattern for ourselves that would only end with some imagined self-perfection.

"Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed,
for he is clean all over; 
so you are clean, but not all."

Rather, as we realize what you have done, we realize that we ourselves are empowered to love as you love.

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another (see John 13:34-45)

In fact, LORD, we have nothing to offer you which you did not first give to us. But this does not make it a lesser gift. It is all we have to offer you and it is all you want from us.

How shall I make a return to the LORD
for all the good he has done for me?
The cup of salvation I will take up,
and I will call upon the name of the LORD.

This is our proclamation until you return LORD Jesus! We celebrate your love for us by making of all that we receive from you, all that we have and are, an offering back to the glory of your name.