Breaking the Word

Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end… He took a towel and tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and dry them with the towel around his waist… So when he had washed their feet (and) put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, "Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me 'teacher' and 'master,' and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do. (Jn 13,1-15) 

Context of today’s reading is very clear. It is the feast of the Passover. The context should never be forgotten when we reflect upon the reading. It is a religious context. It is a liturgical context. This feast came into existence based on a real, factual experience of the people of Israel 2000 years earlier. It was a God experience; God taking sides with the poor and the marginalized. This God promised to be with them to the very end. This God made a covenant with them to show his fidelity.

After 2000 years, Jesus using this as a context makes a covenant with the people of his times. He takes all the religious, liturgical significances as the background for what he is about to do. The Gospel writers: Matthew, Mark and Luke, make (give an opportunity to make) another liturgical event. That is, Jesus institutes the Eucharist and the Priesthood. This is the covenant that he makes; that is, he will be with the people till the end through the Eucharist and through Priesthood. His life and mission will continue to be fulfilled through these two signs.

John the evangelist, in stead, presents the washing of the feet of the disciples in the place of the institution of the Eucharist and the Priesthood. Does he give the same importance to this action? It could be.

Washing of the feet of the other, shows the relationship that exists between them. Only people of very close relationship will wash the feet of the other (like the mother of her child). Slaves will do it out of duty and not out of love or relationship. Here, in the case of Jesus, the master is doing it. It is done as a model to be imitated. It reveals relationship that exists between the master and the disciples. That is why he tells Peter, If I do not wash your feet then you will have no part with me. Washing is also a ministry of cleaning the dirt. So Jesus is telling his disciples that their ministry in the future should also be one of building up relationship.  

Then one of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, "What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?" They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over. On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples approached Jesus and said, "Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?" He said, "Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, 'The teacher says, "My appointed time draws near; in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples."'" The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered, and prepared the Passover… (Mt 26:14-25)

Judas was one of the twelve. He went to the chief priests. He bargained with them. He looked for an opportunity. It was the feast of Unleavened Bread.

The betrayer does not come from outside. He is not a stranger. He does not even belong to the opposite party.  He is one of the twelve. As soon as we hear the word twelve in connection with Jesus, we immediately recognize that the man referred to is a disciple. The man has been chosen by Jesus himself to be with him and he has shared his life and mission. (Jesus has sent the disciples two by two during his public ministry). 

Judas, who was sharing the life of Jesus and the mission of Jesus, was also sharing his friendship with the opponents. This shows that he was not loyal to his master. His loyalty was not to the master (for he was willing to switch over to the other) but for a gain. He was after gain, advantage, success etc.

When there is no loyalty then there is business. One bargains. Interestingly, bargaining is done with the opponent. This is the politics. Playing politics in its negative sense implies seeking after advantage, gain, satisfaction for the self etc.

Now he looks for an opportunity. He could not create an opportunity; it is not in his control. Opportunity is provided to him. It is the time of Passover. It is here that God enters in. Opportunity is the time of Passover. God provides an opportunity and turns the wicked act into a saving event for all. The evil intention, planning, and the execution of it by Judas, finish up as good and a saving event when God enters in. God can and will make good out of evil. (HE has done it at creation and whenever he does it again it is a re-creation).