WEEK FIFTEEN: IN THE UPPER ROOM DAY 1
MORNING FACE TO FACE WITH GOD:
Begin with Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Prayer on John 13: 3-5; 12-16: The Washing of the Disciples' Feet: "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... "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...No slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him." [Please read John 13: 1-20 for a better appreciation of the passage].
Read the Reflection; then pray using John 13: 3-5; 12-16; ask for sorrow with Christ in sorrow, anguish with Christ in anguish, tears and deep grief because of the great affliction Christ endures for me (#203).
Jesus is in the Upper Room with His disciples. They are there to celebrate the Passover Meal of the Mosaic Covenant. And within the context of the Passover Meal, Jesus will institute the new and everlasting covenant through His forthcoming death on the cross, leading to His resurrection. Jesus institutes the new covenant (the New Testament) by giving His disciples His body to eat and His blood to drink, in anticipation of His death and resurrection. Jesus wants to make sure that this event of our salvation will always remain in our midst as a sacred memorial. He wants them to know that He went willingly to His passion and death. He was willing to be our slave in our stead, and pay the price for our freedom. He emphasizes this amazing swap He undertook on our behalf through a very concrete gesture: He washes the feet of His disciples in preparation for the new Passover meal that is about to take place. He identifies himself as a non-Jewish slave, as He was willing to go to any lenghts on our behalf, even to being pilloried as a criminal deserving of crucifixion. His love for us is indeed both unconditional and limitless. And He asks us to do the same as is befitting anyone who takes living in covenant seriously.
Can you see God washing your feet, He humbly kneels and washes your feet, knowing that true repentance in turn will bring forth the gifts of eternal life. He removes the burdens of this life, the daily pressures and with the caressing, He instills new life, life with purpose that is willing to endure the trials of everyday living. He has walked in those footsteps and willingly accepted what came at Him for His life was not here but in Heaven. He gives what He received and we in turn do the same.
What is God saying to you? It is a walk of faith, each day will bring new opportunities. Share the gifts I have given you, be not afraid for I go before you.
Dear Father, I thank You for this opportunity to be in Your presence, I thank You for the gifts of this day and blessings of Your grace throughout the day. I thank You for my thoughts, my actions, my personality that is being transformed slowly with single hearted purpose. Prayers for a friend walking on his journey, be his confidant as he walks his path. Prayers for a couple struggling with a grandchild, help them be grounded in You and protect them from unseen attacks. Bless this day and all it has to offer, Amen.
Mary, Our Lady of Victory, Pray for us
St Joesph, Terror of Demons, Pray for us.
Viva Cristo Rey.
Begin with Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Prayer on John 13: 3-5; 12-16: The Washing of the Disciples' Feet: "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... "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...No slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him." [Please read John 13: 1-20 for a better appreciation of the passage].
Read the Reflection; then pray using John 13: 3-5; 12-16; ask for sorrow with Christ in sorrow, anguish with Christ in anguish, tears and deep grief because of the great affliction Christ endures for me (#203).
Jesus is in the Upper Room with His disciples. They are there to celebrate the Passover Meal of the Mosaic Covenant. And within the context of the Passover Meal, Jesus will institute the new and everlasting covenant through His forthcoming death on the cross, leading to His resurrection. Jesus institutes the new covenant (the New Testament) by giving His disciples His body to eat and His blood to drink, in anticipation of His death and resurrection. Jesus wants to make sure that this event of our salvation will always remain in our midst as a sacred memorial. He wants them to know that He went willingly to His passion and death. He was willing to be our slave in our stead, and pay the price for our freedom. He emphasizes this amazing swap He undertook on our behalf through a very concrete gesture: He washes the feet of His disciples in preparation for the new Passover meal that is about to take place. He identifies himself as a non-Jewish slave, as He was willing to go to any lenghts on our behalf, even to being pilloried as a criminal deserving of crucifixion. His love for us is indeed both unconditional and limitless. And He asks us to do the same as is befitting anyone who takes living in covenant seriously.
Can you see God washing your feet, He humbly kneels and washes your feet, knowing that true repentance in turn will bring forth the gifts of eternal life. He removes the burdens of this life, the daily pressures and with the caressing, He instills new life, life with purpose that is willing to endure the trials of everyday living. He has walked in those footsteps and willingly accepted what came at Him for His life was not here but in Heaven. He gives what He received and we in turn do the same.
What is God saying to you? It is a walk of faith, each day will bring new opportunities. Share the gifts I have given you, be not afraid for I go before you.
Dear Father, I thank You for this opportunity to be in Your presence, I thank You for the gifts of this day and blessings of Your grace throughout the day. I thank You for my thoughts, my actions, my personality that is being transformed slowly with single hearted purpose. Prayers for a friend walking on his journey, be his confidant as he walks his path. Prayers for a couple struggling with a grandchild, help them be grounded in You and protect them from unseen attacks. Bless this day and all it has to offer, Amen.
Mary, Our Lady of Victory, Pray for us
St Joesph, Terror of Demons, Pray for us.
Viva Cristo Rey.
Novena to St Joesph, Day 1
https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/devotions/day-one-13480
Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4b
Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4b
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