Scripture Reflection 5/19-5/20

I recently purchased a pocket bible, a New Testament of the Challoner-Rheims translation (which I believe is based on the Douay-Rheims translation). I highly recommend to every single person out there to find and purchase a pocket-sized bible and carry it in their pockets. Having the Word by your side is extremely helpful.

Anyway, I'm trying to pick up the habit of reading from it daily. The suggested readings for Wednesday and Thursday were Chapter 13 of the Gospel according to St. John. I'd like to formulate and share my thoughts on it.

This is the chapter where Jesus washes the feet of the disciples. I always focus on the dialogue between St. Peter and Jesus (John 13:6-10). Peter's asking Jesus "Will you wash my feet as well?" Jesus explains to Peter that he will not understand this action until later (possibly following Pentacost). I love this part: Peter goes "You will never wash my feet!" Jesus responds, "Unless I wash you, you have no inheritance with me." Peter changes his mind. "Lord, not just my feet but my hands, my head..."

I focus on Verse 10 because what Jesus says is very important: "He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet for he is clean all over..." I always look at this as a reference to the sacrament of reconciliation, of confession. Those who have bathed (baptism) need only to wash their feet (confession). For where we choose to walk is what stains us. We walk in sin and dirty our souls. We do not need a full cleansing as we received in baptism - that was once and for all. But we do need to be washed clean of where we've been - especially if we have been walking on the wide path of destruction.

I'll update this as the day goes on.