Acts 2:1-11; 1 Corinthians 12:3-7,12-13; John 20:19-23
Fr. Prior Simon
We know about the humility of God's only Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. Over the past six months the Liturgy has been teaching us about his self-emptying: how he took flesh from the Virgin Mary; how “he learned obedience through what he suffered”; how he died and was buried, then descended into the lower parts of the earth, for our sake and for our salvation.
St Luke tells us of three occasions when Jesus was invited to dine at the house of a Pharisee. In the first Simon the Pharisee’s reception of Jesus is so lacking in generosity and warmth that he does not even give Jesus water to wash his feet, greet him with a kiss or anoint him with oil - in contrast to the “gate crasher”, that St Therese of Lisieux loved so much, the sinful woman who showers Jesus’ feet with tears and kisses. She loves much because she has been forgiven much.
As Jesus made his way to Jerusalem, and to his Passion and death, the Apostles James and John put to him a request. In doing so they put us all forever in their debt. Thank God for this instance of tactlessness and stupidity! Their ambitious striving for the top places in the coming Kingdom evoked from Jesus a response that gives us a privileged insight into into his own mind, into the Christian life; into God’s plan of salvation.
Popular now: Daily timetable • Light a candle • Music • News • Retreats • Shop • South Range appeal • Subscribe