Every day of Lent, Bishop Edward Malesic writes a Scripture reflection for the faithful. Follow the bishop on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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Tonight, many of us will gather to celebrate the gift of the Eucharist and the establishment of the sacramental priesthood at the evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper.
The Gospel for this Mass recalls that Jesus kneels to wash the feet of his followers. He takes the posture of a servant for them—for us. Then he asks us to imitate him saying, “As I have done, so you must do.”
Service is the heart of the Church. We wash feet whenever we choose kindness over indifference, mercy over convenience, love over fear. Sometimes the most powerful preaching is done not with words, but with hands willing to serve.
If we receive the Eucharist, the Body and Blood, soul and divinity of Jesus, without allowing him to strengthen us for service to others, we are taking this great Sacrament in vain. We are not heading the command attached to it by Jesus that we go and wash feet as he has washed ours.