Washing of the Feet: Holy Thursday 2019: Photo by: John Goddard
CLICK HERE FOR today’s homily
Gospel JN 13:1-15
Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come
to pass from this world to the Father.
He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end.
The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand him over.
So, during supper,
fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power
and that he had come from God and was returning to God,
he rose from supper and took off his outer garments.
He took a towel and tied it around his waist.
Then he poured water into a basin
and began to wash the disciples’ feet
and dry them with the towel around his waist.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him,
“Master, are you going to wash my feet?”
Jesus answered and said to him,
“What I am doing, you do not understand now,
but you will understand later.”
Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered him,
“Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.”
Simon Peter said to him,
“Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.”
Jesus said to him,
“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.”
For he knew who would betray him;
for this reason, he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
So when he had washed their feet
and put his garments back on and reclined at table again,
he said to them, “Do you realize what I have done for you?
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.
I have given you a model to follow,
so that as I have done for you, you should also do.”
Prayers of the Faithful
For the Universal Church, for Pope Francis, bishops and clergy, that we may learn to wash the feet of those who know the effects of long-term poverty, incarceration, illness and severe hardships, so to build the Church on love.
We pray to the Lord.
For all ministers at Sacred Heart, Our Lady of Perpetual Help and Holy Rosary, that we may learn a new humility in serving people at the Altar of God, in our daily lives, and in our parish outreach.
We pray to the Lord.
For the unity and integrity of all believers even though we are unable to share the Body and Blood of Christ during this year’s Triduum. May we yearn for the Real Presence of Christ in our daily lives.
We pray to the Lord.
For our alcohol addicted children, for those who ponder suicide, for those who have been abused, and for our families who are starving for hope and comfort. We pray for all people suffering from COVID-19, and for all who have lost jobs.
We pray to the Lord.
For our young people and adults who desire to receive Eucharist for the first time during the Easter season, that they may be converted to serve people in need, to feed people who are starving for daily bread. We pray for our worried children during this time of pandemic.
We pray to the Lord.
For our desperate poor, our terminally ill, our family members without hope, our loved ones who are estranged from us, our friends who no longer pray, our neighbors who cannot support themselves, that our faith even in the absence of the Eucharist may challenge us to serve tirelessly.
We pray to the Lord.
For our beloved dead, for our families who still grieve this night, that we may receive a new hope of eternal life. May those who have died of COVID-19 find comfort in eternal life.
We pray to the Lord.
Broken But Not Divided 
May God shower you with many blessings and Our Lady of Sorrows keep you close to her heart on this your special day and your anniversary.
We will miss you Father and all the beauty of Holy Thursday. That what we will miss the most is to receive Our Lord and Our God in Body and Blood. As a Pastoral Care Minister when I bring Jesus to the ill I always try to kneel before them to give them Jesus. It is a profound experience for me.
I will look back on many Holy Thursdays and remember them. One I will remember was when I worked at a hospital and nursing home chapel. We brought the patients in and when the Priest started to wash feet every one started to remove their shoes. The priest washed 22 feet that evening. He said this is what it is all about. I will always remember that night.
Congratulations on your 37th anniversary–yes, how very strange not to be able to carry that ministry out in the time honored liturgies of these Holiest Days. I am thinking on those whose feet I need to wash and ask their forgiveness. Pax, A
Happy Anniversary. You share this date with Bishop Bill Wack and I do believe this is not just a coincidence. You are both such special gifts to all of us. We miss you but are so grateful to hear your message daily. God bless you