Presence of God
A quick look through the book of Psalms will reveal a theme that repeats itself again and again - the steadfast love of God.
When we look at Jesus we see the reflection of what God is like. In his life, in facing death, and in death itself, Jesus remained faithful in his love towards those he came to save.
As we journey through Holy Week, you will see the steadfast love of God again and again, fully revealed in the face of Jesus.
Word of God
Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" Jesus answered, "You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand...."
"I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
John 13:1-7, 34-35
Devotion
On Thursday of that week Jesus washed his disciples’ feet. When he was finished he said, “Do you know what I have done for you? I’ve set an example for you. If I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” In other words, you ought to be willing to stoop down and do the dirtiest work there is for the sake of your brothers and sisters. This is what real love looks like, Jesus would say. Love doesn’t care how dirty it gets. Love doesn’t ask how much it might hurt. Love just does the loving thing. And then Jesus said, “I’m giving you a new commandment, that you love one another just as I have loved you.”
Ouch.
Are any of us ready for that? Can we love our brothers and sisters the way Jesus has loved us?
Jim Somerville
BIG ouch. This has nothing to do with how anyone has treated us, as in ‘I haven’t had a raise in x years, so why should you get one?!’ or ‘when did you ever lift a finger to help ME out? And you think I should be helping YOU?!’
This love has nothing to do with ‘quid pro quo’; in fact, it witnesses to God’s love for us even more when our normal human response is NOT that kind of ‘payback’ but rather, an unrestricted, bottomless outpouring of love. For no other reason than that is how we have been treated by God and because Jesus told us to do it.
REALLY big ouch.
Norma Prina Murphy
Conversation with God
Lord, fill me with the kind of love that lays itself down for its brothers and sisters. Somewhere right now there may be a brother or sister who needs my love, just as I need yours. Amen.
Benediction
O that you and I might be,
Like Jesus,
Faithful and true.
God grant us grace
That we might become,
Like Christ,
Steadfast in our love too.
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| The command to love is for all who have been baptized. ALL. NO exceptions. |
I guess that's why Jesus made it a commandment. Because he knew otherwise we would just toss it out without even a single thought.
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