https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+13&version=NRSVCE
Today we read and meditate upon John 13. Mediate upon the story and words as you read. Let God speak to you through His word – listen to what He shares in your heart.
In chapter 13, John takes us inside the upper room to witness one of the most intimate experiences of both Jesus and His disciples. I read the events as Jesus washes His disciples’ feet and without fail, I cry.
This always brings me back to my brothers in Emmaus. These men are some of the most service oriented and humble leaders I know. I look up to them so much. Once, years back I was put in a position to lead the ministry. In so many ways this was wrong, how could I lead such great Catholic men? Yet, God asked and I had to say yes. A few years later, God moved the pieces to put on my heart to start a new ministry group within our home parish. Now, I was leading great men, who were also my neighbors in the pews.
My prayer I begged of Jesus was simply to give me His heart of service that I may serve these great men in His wisdom and love. Our first retreat came. God selected the team leader, and through God, he selected the team for the retreat. I watched the preparations unfold in awe of what God was doing. And, in awe also of the humility and service these men were exhibiting. During the retreat, John 14 and the washing of the disciples’ feet came upon my heart. God put upon my heart that in this time, I was acting in the person of His Son. I was being asked to lead this ministry with the conviction of love and service in which Jesus Himself lives. Wow! Talk about humbling. I sat that night in the chapel at the retreat center and cried unabashedly.
We are all asked very clearly in this Gospel to do just that – ““Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Amen, Amen, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.” John 13:12-17
“I am giving you three ways of exercising mercy toward your neighbor: the first – by deed, the second – by word, the third – by prayer. In these three degrees is contained the fullness of mercy, and it is an unquestionable proof of love for Me. By this means a soul glorifies and pays reverence to My mercy” Divine Mercy in My Soul # 742
The greatest way to show mercy and give glory to God is by deed. This is what John 13 calls to me – “serve My flock.”