Saturday, October 1 : Origen

During a meal Jesus rose from table and set aside his outer garments, assuming the appearance of a slave, as these words show: “He took a towel and tied it around his waist” so as not to be completely naked and to use his own towel to wipe his disciples’ feet (Jn 13,2-5). See from this how greatly the greatness and glory of the Word made flesh humbles itself! He “poured water into a basin” to wash his disciples’ feet. “Abraham looked up and saw men standing before him. He ran from the entrance of his tent to greet them; and bowing to the ground, he said: ‘Sir, if I may ask this favor, please do not go on past your servant’” (Gn 18,2-3). However, Abraham did not himself fetch water, nor did he announce that he himself was going to wash the strangers’ feet on their coming to him, but he said: “Let some water be brought that your feet may be washed.” In the same way, neither did Joseph bring water to wash the feet of his eleven brothers himself, but it was his steward who “brought them water to wash their feet” (Gn 43,24). But he who declared: “I have come not to be served but to serve” (Mt 20,28) and very rightly said: “Learn from me for I am meek and humble of heart” (Mt 11,29), himself poured water into the basin. He knew there was no one else but he who could wash the disciples’ feet if that purification was to enable them to have a part with him. The water, I think, was a word able to wash the disciples’ feet when they came to the basin Jesus had put there for them.
maronite readings – rosary,team