Thursday of the Fourth Week of Easter

(Optional Memorial for Saints Nereus and Achilleus, Martyrs) 
 
Proper readings for the Memorial of Sts. Nereus and Achilleus
Biographical Information about St. Nereus and St. Achilleus
 
Or
 
(Optional Memorial for Saint Pancras, Martyr)
 
Proper readings for the Memorial of St. Pancras
Biographical information about St. Pancras

“Jesus with his Disciples”
Gustave Doré (1832-1883)

Readings for Thursday of the Fourth Week of Easter [1]
 
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible [2]
 
Readings and Commentary: [3]
 
Reading 1: Acts 13:13-25
 
From Paphos, Paul and his companions
set sail and arrived at Perga in Pamphylia.
But John left them and returned to Jerusalem.
They continued on from Perga and reached Antioch in Pisidia.
On the sabbath they entered into the synagogue and took their seats.
After the reading of the law and the prophets,
the synagogue officials sent word to them,
"My brothers, if one of you has a word of exhortation
for the people, please speak."
 
So Paul got up, motioned with his hand, and said,
"Fellow children of Israel and you others who are God-fearing, listen.
The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors
and exalted the people during their sojourn in the land of Egypt.
With uplifted arm he led them out,
and for about forty years he put up with them in the desert.
When he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan,
he gave them their land as an inheritance
at the end of about four hundred and fifty years.
After these things he provided judges up to Samuel the prophet.
Then they asked for a king.
God gave them Saul, son of Kish,
a man from the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.
Then he removed him and raised up David as their king;
of him he testified,
I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart;
he will carry out my every wish.
From this man's descendants God, according to his promise,
has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus.
John heralded his coming by proclaiming a baptism of repentance
to all the people of Israel;
and as John was completing his course, he would say,
'What do you suppose that I am? I am not he.
Behold, one is coming after me;
 
I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.'"
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Commentary on Acts 13:13-25
 
This is the first of several instances recorded in Acts in which St. Paul uses his scholarly knowledge of the Hebrew tradition to build up a logical rationale for Jesus as savior and Messiah. In this passage his development ends as he recounts the history of God’s covenant with the Jewish people, from their exodus from Egypt under Moses to the appearance of John the Baptist. John was a contemporary figure about whom these people would have been aware.
 
CCC: Acts 13:24 523
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 89:2-3, 21-22, 25 and 27
 
R. (2) For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
 
The favors of the LORD I will sing forever;
through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness.
For you have said, "My kindness is established forever";
in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
 
"I have found David, my servant;
with my holy oil I have anointed him,
That my hand may be always with him,
and that my arm may make him strong."
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
 
"My faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him,
and through my name shall his horn be exalted.
He shall say of me, 'You are my father,
my God, the Rock, my savior.'"
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
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Commentary on Ps 89:2-3, 21-22, 25 and 27
 
Psalm 89, taken as a whole, is a communal lament. This selection rejoices in God’s establishment of the Davidic dynasty and the promise of heavenly support for his kingdom.
 
CCC: Ps 89 709
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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."
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Commentary on Jn 13:16-20
 
This passage from St. John’s Gospel is set in the upper room following the Passover meal that was to be the Last Supper. The author’s account of the washing of the disciple’s feet and the immediate aftermath differs from the Synoptic versions, in that here the Lord announces his foreknowledge of the events to follow. Jesus uses this predictive ability to bring the reader to belief in Christ as the Son of God. (“I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”)
 
CCC: Jn 13:12-16 1694; Jn 13:12-15 1269; Jn 13:13 447; Jn 13:15 520; Jn 13:20 858
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Reflection:
 
What if Jesus had come to us, as many of the Jews of his day had expected, and immediately assumed a place of secular and political power, taking the seat of an emperor or king? What if, instead of walking through Galilee teaching and performing signs of healing and forgiveness, he had, with a mere effort of will, taken the seat of the emperor of Rome (as with the feeding of the multitudes)? How would that example have changed how we understand God the Father whom Jesus, his Son, came to reveal?
 
We would never have understood that, even though we may have great wealth or power, our duty as Jesus’ followers is to serve others. We are to be stewards of God’s gifts, not kings to wield them as our own.
 
In the Gospel today, Jesus has just finished washing the feet of his disciples (including Judas). In the selection just proclaimed, he forces them to look at this servant role and understand that, as he has performed this act of humble service, they too are to express the love of God to others through this attitude of servant leadership.
 
It is of this very attitude that the Lord tells us: “If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it.” Today we are called to express our belief in the Risen Lord by recalling to others his humility and love. We express this love as our Savior commands, in humble service to others for the praise and glory of God the Father.
 
Pax

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[1] The picture used is “Jesus with his Disciples” Gustave Doré (1832-1883).
[2] S.S. Commemoratio
[3] The readings are taken from the New American Bible, with the exception of the psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This republication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.