Fr Kevin Kilgore

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Gospel: John 13: 16-20

When Jesus had washed the disciples’ feet, he said to them:
“Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master
nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him.
If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it.
I am not speaking of all of you.
I know those whom I have chosen.
But so that the Scripture might be fulfilled,
The one who ate my food has raised his heel against me.
From now on I am telling you before it happens,
so that when it happens you may believe that I AM. 
Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send
receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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In Jesus’ day, it was customary to have a servant wash the feet of guests before they entered a person’s home. There was a practical reason for it. People didn’t drive on well paved roads like we do today; they walked along dry, dusty paths, often strewn with pebbles.

Entering a person’s home with feet covered in dust would be an insult.

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However, there is also a spiritual dimension to foot washing, which is why John includes it in his Gospel. Unlike Matthew, Mark, and Luke who focus on the institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper, John focuses on the washing of the feet.

It was a rite of passage into a person’s home – a sign of welcome, even intimacy. By extension, it also served as the rite of passage for Peter and the others into the Church, and into the priesthood.

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In baptism, we’re all welcomed by the Lord into the Church.

And when we stray – when our feet become dusty – he absolves venial sins at the beginning of each Mass. As the Mass begins, the priest pauses, inviting those present to, “Call to mind our sins.”

Then we hear those words, “May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.”

Perhaps we can spend a moment with the Lord today in gratitude, knowing that every time we return to the Church, Jesus kneels down and washes our feet.

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Image credits: (1) Madox Ford Brown, Washing of the Feet (2) Ibid. (3) Marckinna – WordPress

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Gospel: John 14: 6-14

Jesus said to Thomas, “I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.
If you know me, then you will also know my Father.
From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
Philip said to him, 
“Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.”
Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time
and you still do not know me, Philip?
Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.
How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?
The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own.
The Father who dwells in me is doing his works. 
Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me,
or else, believe because of the works themselves.
Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever believes in me will do the works that I do,
and will do greater ones than these,
because I am going to the Father.
And whatever you ask in my name, I will do,
so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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While walking on this earth physically, Jesus lived with one significant limitation:

He could only be in one place at a time.

Although he gave sight to the blind, forgave sinners, and raised people from the dead, he could only do so for one person, one home, one village at a time.

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In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells his Apostles that this “limitation” is about to change. “I am going to the Father,” he says.

But, “whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these.”

At Pentecost, the power of the Holy Spirit will come down upon the Apostles – and this power will change the world. 

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Over the last twenty centuries, consider the work the Church has done, filled with the Holy Spirit.

We have founded more schools, universities, hospitals, and soup kitchens than any other institution in history.

We’ve fed, clothed, and sheltered tens of millions of people… if not more.

We’ve sent out more missionaries to foreign shores; made disciples of more nations; cured the sick, the lame, the blind, the mute; and followed in the footsteps of people like Peter, Paul, Mother Teresa and Dorothy Day.

We have been the face, hands, and feet of Jesus Christ not just in one place … but in every place.

Through us the work of God continues, as he promised.

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So, in what ways can I be he hands and feet of Christ today?

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Image credits: (1) Biblia JFA Offline (2) Jesus, Wikipedia (3) My Catholic Prayers

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Acts: 11: 19-26

Those who had been scattered by the persecution
that arose because of Stephen
went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch,
preaching the word to no one but Jews.
There were some Cypriots and Cyrenians among them, however,
who came to Antioch and began to speak to the Greeks as well,
proclaiming the Lord Jesus. 
The hand of the Lord was with them
and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. 
The news about them reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem,
and they sent Barnabas to go to Antioch.
When he arrived and saw the grace of God,
he rejoiced and encouraged them all
to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart,
for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith.
And a large number of people was added to the Lord. 
Then he went to Tarsus to look for Saul,
and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch. 
For a whole year they met with the Church
and taught a large number of people,
and it was in Antioch that the disciples
were first called Christians.

The Word of the Lord.

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Our first reading describes one of the most important events in human history. But without a careful ear, we’d miss it.

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“Some of them came to Antioch and spoke to the Greeks and told them the good news of the Lord Jesus.”

This is the moment when the Gospel is first shared with the Gentiles. 

Until now, all Christians were converts from Judaism. They either encountered the Risen Lord himself or came to understand Jesus as the fulfillment of the Jewish scriptures through the teaching of the Apostles.

But, all of a sudden, Christians start evangelizing pagans – people who have never heard of the God of Israel before. This giant leap of faith demands courage and creativity as they have to think of ways to lead non-believers to God.

The momentum builds, and by the end of the first century, the Gospel reaches the far ends of the earth.

These early Christians started a movement that changed the world…and we don’t even know their names.

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Perhaps there’s a point in that for us today.

We can be eager to seek the spotlight; to take credit for all of the good things we do.

But the first Christians remind us that it doesn’t matter “who” does “what,” so long as the work gets done…and God gets the glory.

What might that mean for me today?

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Image credits: (1) pursueGOD.org (2) Catholic Exchange (3) Wisdom Hunters