The Last Supper 2009

Tonight, we celebrated the Last Supper Jesus shared with his apostles. We read of the story of Jesus' washing their feet. The theme is service. This is how priesthood and the church hierarchy are to be seen, an institution of service. Fr. Lajeune celebrated the mass tonight. Despite the difficulty he experiences in his mobility, he insisted on washing the feet of 12 parishioners, including my naughty Symphorian who joined in at the last minute.
In the morning, all able-bodied priests gathered in the Cathedral to celebrate a mass that consecrates the Holy Oil to be used in the Sacraments of Initiation. All of them pledged, once more, their loyalty to the Bishop and his successor. Fr. Lajeune also took part in it.
In his homily, this 83-year old priest spoke about his life as a priest. The congregation paid full attention and were in tune with all his words, punctuating with nodding heads, smiling faces and laughters.
Fr. Lajeune did not boast of his achievements. He stressed a lot of his imperfections just like everyone of us and asked us to tolerate and forgive his failures. How can we not? God has chosen him despite his imperfections. Not just Fr. Lajeune. Indeed, God has chosen us all despite our imperfections. That is why Jesus washed the feet of his apostles who were less than perfect in one way or another. As for us, we feel blessed with Fr Lajeune's walking among us. We have competent administrators, energetic young priests but most of all, the embodiment of God in Fr. Lajeune. He has been very patient and forgiving among us.
He has not expected God to reward him. Rather, he thanks God for allowing him to devote his life to serve Him and His people. He dares not to count his achievements but he is content with all the efforts he has put into his pastoral work. He has put his life in the hand of God, doing His will in Vietnam, in Chai Wan and here in Tuen Mun.
Thinking about my own life, I am not a focused and disciplined man. True, I can indulge myself in whatever work I am doing at hand, but I have not devoted my whole life in pursuing any noble cause. May God be my guide.
At last, Fr. Lajeune told us that he also put his life in our hands. The life of all the priests is not just in the hand of God but also in the hand of the people whom they serve. He remembers saying his last mass in Vietnam before deportation by the Communists. Everybody was in tears and he told the weeping Vietnamese congregation that the life of the remaining Chinese priest was in their hands. He urged them to try their best to shield the Chinese priest from harm and danger. Though the Chinese priest was later imprisoned for several years, he managed to return to serve the Vietnamese community until today. These priests devote their life to serve the people of God. We should also provide for their needs and security.
If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet (John 13:14).
After homily, Fr. Lajeune washed the feet of the 12 parishioners, including my Symphorian. May God bless my son and Fr. Lajeune who has a noble soul.

Dear Jesus, I am an unworthy servant. Allow me to perform my duties properly. Amen.