Daily Gospel Reflection for April 29, 2021

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Reflection by Colleen O'Dowd

Today's Gospel: John 13:16-20

So Jesus quoting scripture to the disciples in the upper room, just as the Last Supper is getting underway and with #AllTheFeet, makes me giggle just a little bit - it reminds me of the Friends episode where we discover Joey doesn’t share food.

I don’t think Catherine of Siena would agree with Joey from Friends. But she would agree with Jesus.

And today -- most fittingly, on her feast day -- we are reminded about seeking a careful balance among humility and radical generosity and radical candor.

Our mission is to cry the gospel -- by washing feet. That’s how intimate we need to be with someone before we can really do this effectively. Kneeling. On the ground. Washing dirty feet. There would have to be some sort of relationship, some intimacy. That’s the business. But even a slave would try to help his Master or share important information with him. That’s what the scripture quoting is about. Trying to connect the dots. This is what the Old Testament prophets did for Jesus’ people. And this is what Jesus does for me. And you.

Somebody wise (not me) said that evangelization is one beggar showing another beggar where the bread is. Jesus is hardly a beggar, but we find He not only chooses, calls, and equips that ragtag bunch of disciples to find the bread. He is the bread.

And unlike Joey from Friends, Jesus does share food! He shares Himself with the world. And He is calling you and me to do likewise, with the great and fiery passion and joy of Catherine of Siena!

Ponder:

Who is the person in my life it would be the most difficult to kneel before and wash his/her feet? What’s holding me back from being in relationship with this person?

Pray:

Lord Jesus – show me the way I can become even closer in relationship to You. And when You think I’m ready -- show me specifically the way You are calling me to bring others to You.

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Our mission is to cry the gospel -- by washing feet. That’s how intimate we need to be with someone before we can really do this effectively. #dailygospel

Copyright 2021 Colleen O'Dowd

Colleen O’Dowd is a Parish Missionary at Our Lady of Ransom in Niles, IL. She loves being Catholic, her Converse all-stars are always liturgically correct, and she is a super-saint-geek! She blogs ultra-occasionally at www.ourheartswereburningwithin.wordpress.com and can also be found @catholiccolleen on Twitter and Instagram.