Matthew 5:8 – ‘Blessed are the pure of heart for they will see God.’

At the Last Supper, when Jesus started washing the feet of his disciples, Peter objected to have his feet washed by his master. In the historical context of the time, it was unthinkable to think the master would wash the feet of his follower. Usually performed by slaves who would wash the feet of the guests, it was an act showing profound humility and hospitality, deeply embedded in their culture.

Let us look closer to what happened in this encounter. Jesus not only washed their feet, which was a common custom before the meals, but, he performed a ritual rich in meaning. By this humble gesture he not only exemplified servitude and love but also spiritual cleansing.

He responded to the apostle Peter’s objection with: “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

Feet symbolize a journey, they may carry a mark of the sinful journey, places we have been to, habits we have picked up, decisions we have made. By letting God wash us and purify us, we enter into communion with Him. Because we receive forgiveness through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, we  are transformed more into His Image, and our lives become more beautiful as we are conformed to the life of our crucified Lord.

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

However, the story doesn’t end here: The feet of the apostles that have been washed by their loving Saviour will soon be the feet spreading the good news of His Resurrection.

Let us seek in this Easter season to grow in purity and exchange our rebellious hearts for a heart that desires to honour God.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, You see all that is within me, all that is reflected in my thoughts, my words and my deeds. Search me, O God and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me.

I want the hidden places within me – the meditations of my heart – to be pure. Help me to look to you and change me  more and more in your image so that I can become pure in thought, word and deed.

Psalm 19:14  ‘May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer’.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy, He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”  (1 Peter 1:3)

Happy Easter! Christ is Risen! Alleluia!

Easter was celebrated in Nazareth last weekend by Christians who follow the Western Church calendar amidst the pain and trauma of the ongoing war in Gaza and in the north of the country. Although the celebrations were subdued in Nazareth, Holy Week and Easter provided an opportunity to focus more on spirituality, expressing the pain of the current situation but also the hope of resurrection, in a profound way.

Aiming to enhance unity and strengthen faith, The Nazareth Trust hosted two special services during Lent and Holy Week. The first was a special prayer service of hymns and meditations on the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus, held in the Bernath Auditorium on the evening of 18th March. Moving chants and songs were performed by the Trust’s choir and a large choir from the town of Kafr Yasif, accompanied by prayers led by various church leaders and their representatives of all Church traditions in Nazareth and the surrounding areas. The audience were uplifted by the spirit of unity in Christ that prevails during pain and anguish in the Holy Land.

The Trust also organised a service during Holy Week where the Nazareth Trust Choir sang about the suffering and glory of Christ, while Bishop Yousef Matta shared reflections on the personal implications of journeying with Christ through His passion, death, and resurrection. This service was held in the Hospital Chapel on the 27 March and was well attended and appreciated by staff of the Nazareth Trust.

Like the Apostle Peter, who made the very painful journey with Jesus through His suffering, death and burial, to His glorious resurrection, we too give thanks and praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in His great mercy has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead!

This journey between passion and resurrection has always accompanied the Trust since its inception and through the years, such as frequent changes in the geopolitical environment, wars, and pandemics. As we have faced those with faith and hope, we continue to develop new services, upgrade and expand our facilities, and strengthen our relationships with our staff, local and international community, and supporters.

We thank you for your prayers and support for the Nazareth Trust at this challenging time and continue to pray for the war to end and for the Nazareth Village and SERVE Nazareth Programme to be resurrected to new life soon! In closing, we echo the words of St. Paul where he says, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).

Waseem Dibbini, CPA, MBA

Acting CEO of the Nazareth Trust