ONLY THOSE WHO LOVE ARE ABLE TO SERVE

A reflection from John 13, 1-15

Christian liturgy is rooted in Jewish worship, which has at its center Yahweh, the God who decided to make history with his people and establish with them a covenant of love. The celebration of Easter is central in the life of this people and their sense has matured over the centuries: "From a party spring and pasture, it received a new sense with the liberation from Egypt. But all this prepared the people to receive their full meaning in Jesus Christ, who made ​​sacrifice himself for the liberation of all humanity" (U. Zilles).

          In fact, Jesus is not establish a new Passover, but realizes, through his life, death and resurrection, the fullness of Easter, giving a new meaning to many rites and liturgics feasts. Using the Jewish ritual, he announces to his disciples the full liberation that was coming and that he longed ardently to share with his friends. In this supper in an atmosphere of great expectancy and familiarity, Jesus gives himself as food, anticipating in ritual way what was going to happen with him on the cross. Through symbolic gestures, he expresses the sense of his free gift, a characteristic that marked all his life and that it should also be part on the lives of his followers. Therefore, he washes the feet of his disciples, giving testimony of deep humility and self-emptiness (kenosis), uniting forever the celebration of his Body and Blood the fraternal charity. Those who will continue in the world the work of the Master assume new posture, characterized by the attitude of service, by the regard of one another and by share, where new relationships are established.

Jesus is the Master server, who loves until the last consequences. Knowing that love requires presence, he perpetuates his presence in the world through the Eucharist. The Eucharist is an expression of free gift of Christ and gesture of love that becomes service. In this context it makes sense the ministerial of priesthood, sign of Christ Pastor that continues caring and guiding his Flock. By the common priesthood of the faithful, we become one body with Christ and thus responsible for its building in love. The Eucharist only makes sense if it is an expression of brotherly love and only those who love are able to serve. Only those who love truly are able to go up to the last consequences. Only the love produces communion and only the things made ​​with love have them consistency. By the Eucharist we are really transformed into what we celebrate, accepting the reality of the Paschal Mystery as "Passover of Christ in Easter of us, Easter of us in the Passover of Christ" (CNBB, doc. 43, n. 300). So After each Eucharistic celebration we accept the challenge to return to daily activities as witnesses of Christ who gives his life for love for all people to have a full life.

 

Pe. Degaaxé

            Revisão: Brother Cipriano