Daily Gospel Reflection
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April 2, 2026
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.
The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand him over.
So, during supper,
fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power
and that he had come from God and was returning to God,
he rose from supper and took off his outer garments.
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.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him,
“Master, are you going to wash my feet?”
Jesus answered and said to him,
“What I am doing, you do not understand now,
but you will understand later.”
Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered him,
“Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.”
Simon Peter said to him,
“Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.”
Jesus said to him,
“Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed,
for he is clean all over;
so you are clean, but not all.”
For he knew who would betray him;
for this reason, he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
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.”
Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner. The full readings of the day from the Lectionary are available here.
On the night he was betrayed, he knew. He knew his time had come. Yet, I wonder what he focused on as this awareness settled into his consciousness. Were his thoughts about his imminent suffering or the eternal, glorious victory? Though we don’t have a transcript of Christ’s inner monologue, I doubt he spiraled.
His swift attentiveness to the moment seemed not to be characterized by impending sorrow. His loving response was to act in peaceful surrender and with decisive unity to, and with, the Father’s heart. Abiding in God’s loving providence, he courageously surrendered, knowing that come what may, it would be for his good and the Father’s glory. So with the little time he had remaining in his earthly life, Christ chose to offer a memorial of his sacrifice while washing the feet of the disciples. In the midst of profound unknowns, he did not impatiently rush to attend to a litany of worry.
In many pivotal moments in the gospels, and in each of our own lives, there is often a pregnant pause. The Lord offers an invitation while simultaneously respecting our freedom, allowing us to decide how we might respond. Christ’s exemplary model to choose what we can—even in the midst of difficulty—allows us to join his heroic response when we too face big and small crossroads.
Whether our tomorrows be filled with good or ill, can we serve with a selfless love, giving what we have received, trusting the goodness of God works all things together for our good in his perfect timing? Can we trust our prayers will be answered? Can we let God bless the how? As we enter these holy days, can we remember that the memorial of his life, death, and resurrection beckons us to life in abundance? Like Christ, we too can choose to live the beautiful balance that gazes towards eternity while knowing we have only today.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, there is much in this world we struggle to understand. It is hard to grasp why one might betray a friend, why suffering enters our lives, or why the righteous sometimes pay for the sins of others. Such is the darkness that sets at the end of this holy day. Yet in this moment of uncertainty, you give us a sure model of how to live. As the Lord washed his disciples’ feet, so he calls us to do the same. Teach us, Heavenly Father, how to be more like your Son. Teach us how to suffer with dignity; how to accept the mysteries of life we cannot understand. Instruct us in the ways of love, so that we may be true disciples of Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.
Saint of the Day
Francis' parents were childless for many years until, through the intercession of St. Francis of Assisi, they were granted three children. When he was born in 1416, the couple named their first son after the great saint, and Francis came to emulate the man from Assisi throughout his whole life.
Francis went on a pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi with his parents when he was a teenager. When they returned to his hometown of Paola, he took on the life of a hermit by living in a cave outside of the city, with the permission of his parents—he was barely 15 years old. He began to attract followers and he organized them into a religious community built around penance, humility, and love. The people of the surrounding area loved the brothers so much, they helped build a monastery for the community. Several other monasteries in this order sprang up in Italy—known as the Minims, their community still serves people today.
As he grew and matured, he was given the ability to read people’s minds and hearts, and worked many miracles. He cared greatly for the poor and those who were oppressed, and he spoke out against rulers in Italy, though they cared little for his advice. The king of Naples sent to have him imprisoned for speaking out against his sons, but when the guard met Francis, he was overcome by the man’s holiness and humility. He returned and convinced the king to leave Francis alone.
The king of France, Louis XI, was on his deathbed, terrified to die, when he heard about Francis, and thought that perhaps Francis could cure him. He petitioned the pope to have Francis travel to France, and Francis obeyed, but was unable to cure Louis. “The lives of kings are in the hands of God and have their appointed limits,” he told the king.
Francis did help the king prepare for death, however, and the king died in the arms of the holy man. Charles VIII, son of the king, kept Francis close for his wisdom, and helped build several more monasteries for Francis’ order. Francis used his position to influence the politics of his day—his counsel helped France restore peace between England and Spain, for example.
Francis lived the rest of his days in the monasteries Charles built for his order in France, and died there at the age of 91 on this date in 1507, which happened to be Good Friday.
In 1562, Protestant dissidents broke open his tomb, and found his remains incorrupt. They burned his body, but Catholics gathered his bones and preserved them as relics, some of which rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica.
St. Francis of Paola, you advised kings and could read people’s hearts, pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of St. Francis of Paola is available for use under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. Last accessed February 17, 2025 on Wikimedia Commons.
