let jesus love you
“Do you understand what I just did for you?” —John 13:12
Jesus washes our feet, even if we betray or deny Him (Jn 13:5ff). Foot washing was the work of a slave. There is no limit to how low Jesus will descend to love and serve us. He became a slave (see Phil 2:7ff).
St. Peter’s objection to foot-washing was similar to that of the centurion, who said: Lord, “I am not worthy to have You under my roof” (Mt 8:8). But in this case, Jesus wanted to share His humble, loving service with Peter. Remember how St. John the Baptizer also protested that he was not worthy to baptize Jesus? Jesus said to John, “Give in for now” (Mt 3:15). St. John, St. Peter, and the centurion allowed Jesus to minister as He desired, on His terms. How will we respond to Jesus’ offer to love and serve us? Will we say, “You shall never wash” me? (Jn 13:8) Will we say to Jesus, “If those are Your terms, You shall never love me”?
Let us say with the Blessed Virgin Mary, “Be it done unto me according to Your will” (see Lk 1:38). Jesus wants to give Himself to us in the Holy Eucharist. We are who Jesus says we are. If He says we are worthy of His love, then we are. Jesus is Love (1 Jn 4:8, 16). Let Him love you and unite you to Himself.
Prayer: Father, may my next reception of Holy Communion be as though I was receiving Jesus for the first time.
Promise: “Every time, then, you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until He comes!” —1 Cor 11:26
Praise: “O Sacrament most holy, O Sacrament divine. All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine.”
Reference: (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
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