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RC DAILY MEDITATIONS
RC DAILY MEDITATIONS

April 2, 2026

Regnum Christi Spirituality Center Uncle Eddy

St Francis of Paola

/ Uncle Eddy

Dear Frank, I am delighted that your report cards make your parents proud.  But I am worried that they might be making you proud as well. It’s OK for your parents to be proud of you (as long as they remember that you were created by God through their cooperation, not the other way around), but for you to be proud of you – that could be dangerous.  Of course, if God gave you smarts, you are wise to develop them – “to whom much is given much will be asked,” as the Good Book (that’s the Bible, by the way) says. But you would be foolish to think yourself great because of them. After all, they are not really yours; they are God’s.  He gave them to you. He could just as easily have made you dense. And if he gave them to you, any greatness they produce belongs to him, not to you. Your greatness ought to be in your humility, in your self-control, in putting your talents to work for the Kingdom of Christ… Virtues, my bright little nephew, Christian virtues: not even a 5.0 grade point average can make up for their absence, but they can make up for anything.  You would do well to consider the example of your namesake, St Francis of Paola. (Happy saint’s day, by the way.) He went off to be a hermit when he was 15 (in a cave on the coast of Calabria, Italy – you know, the “toe” of the “boot”), and never had more than the most rudimentary education. Nevertheless, his fame for miracles spread far and wide, such that King Louis XI asked the Pope to send St Francis to cure him from a deadly disease; and during his stay he so impressed the courtiers with his wisdom that the most learned men vied to be his disciples.  (He didn’t cure the king’s disease, but he did bring the king back into communion with God before he died – in St Francis’s arms.) So if you would be truly wise, my bright little nephew, remember that the report card we get at the very end matters most, and in the meantime, don’t let your grades go to your head. Hopes and prayers, Uncle Eddy

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26-Lent-Day-44

40 Days to Peace and Union with God: Day 44 – The Final Lesson

/ Lent 2026, Regnum Christi, Whole Territory

“ ‘Consider well,’ he says to us, ‘that in loving I was first. You had not yet come forth into the light, not even the world itself had come into existence, when already I was loving you. Throughout my eternal existence I have loved you.’ ”

- ST. ALPHONSUS LIGUORI

READ: JOHN 13:1–20

It was before the festival of the Passover, and Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to pass from this world to the Father. He had always loved those who were his in the world, but now he showed how perfect his love was. They were at supper, and the devil had already put it into the mind of Judas Iscariot son of Simon, to betray him. Jesus knew that the Father had put everything into his hands, and that he had come from God and was returning to God, and he got up from table, removed his outer garment and, taking a towel, wrapped it round his waist; he then poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel he was wearing. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered, “At the moment you do not know what I am doing, but later you will understand.” “Never!” said Peter. “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus replied, “If I do not wash you, you can have nothing in common with me.” “Then, Lord,” said Simon Peter, “not only my feet, but my hands and my head as well!” Jesus said, “No one who has taken a bath needs washing, he is clean all over. You too are clean, though not all of you are.” He knew who was going to betray him, that was why he said, “Though not all of you are.” When he had washed their feet and put on his clothes again he went back to the table. “Do you understand,” he said, “what I have done to you? You call me Master and Lord, and rightly; so I am. If I, then, the Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you should wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example so that you may copy what I have done to you. I tell you most solemnly, no servant is greater than his master, no messenger is greater than the man who sent him. Now that you know this, happiness will be yours if you behave accordingly. I am not speaking about all of you: I know the ones I have chosen; but what scripture says must be fulfilled: Someone who shares my table rebels against me. I tell you this now, before it happens, so that when it does happen you may believe that I am He. I tell you most solemnly, whoever welcomes the one I send welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.”

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REFLECT

Judas was still at the Last Supper at this point. He had already decided to follow through with his plan of betrayal, but he had not yet left to set it in motion. What was in Jesus’ mind when He came to Judas, poured water over his feet, and began to wash them? As Jesus finished drying Judas’s feet with the towel, and as He laced up the sandals again, He looked into Judas’s face and caught his eye. Jesus hadn’t given up on him. Jesus never gives up on us; He is the ever-faithful friend. The tragedy is that we are the ones who sometimes give up on Him.

Judas: I was more disgusted than ever at this repellent display of weakness. It confirmed yet again all my suspicions: this man had come not to restore Israel to its glory but to enervate it and despoil it. I wanted nothing to do with such an imposter, such a weak dreamer. I have to admit, though, that when He looked up at me — well, it made me think of the first time we met, when I heard Him speaking in the Temple and my heart surged with hope. He had looked at me then too, and I seemed to see in His eyes all the strength and wisdom and life that I knew existed somewhere but hadn’t been able to find. He invited me to come with Him then, and I couldn’t resist. I had never been moved like that before. And then there were the miracles, and the huge crowds, and His mastery over the Pharisees. It was all so promising, and I could even taste victory just around the corner. But He never took the final step. And then He started talking about the cross. The others ignored it, but I knew He was serious. And how could a crucified rabbi be the Messiah? How could weakness reclaim our glory? That last night, for a split second after He replaced my sandals, it occurred to me that maybe there was more to it than I understood. But then I looked at Him again, wrapped in that towel like a slave, washing my feet. It was repugnant. Peter was right — who would ever let a real Messiah sink so low as to wash our feet? But Peter was weak too; he caved in. I could never serve a Lord like that.

RESPOND

I glory in being able to call You Lord. I know that there is order in the universe. I know that my life has purpose. I know that the world is safe in Your hands and history is marching forward according to a law of hidden progress, surely guided by Your invincible providence. Jesus, my Lord, my Master! Here is my life. I put it at Your feet and at Your service. I offer myself to You.

So many items are on my to-do list. I have so many plans and hopes. I want to do so much for You, Lord. But in the midst of my programs and activities, I too often forget about the only law of Your Kingdom: I am to wash my neighbors’ feet. Only there will I ever find the happiness You intend for me. I must learn self-forgetful love. And each day, You provide so many chances for me to give myself in this way! Give me courage.

REST

You have washed my feet so often, Lord. Every time I go to Confession, You humble Yourself and wash my feet. Thank You for washing Judas’s feet. I am like Judas. Have I not betrayed You at times? You knew I would; You knew my heart as You washed my feet. A Judas is within me; don’t let me forget. As soon as I forget it, I will follow his example. Make me faithful, Lord; never let me be separated from You, never.

RESOLVE

How can I carry this encounter with me into the day? (Write / Journal)

CLOSING PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

Most Blessed and Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thank You for Your love and Your grace in allowing me this time of prayer with You.

The world, the flesh, and the devil will all propose things I should focus on and run after today. I beg You to fill me with Your Holy Spirit and help me instead to know and embrace Your will. Help me to see what You desire of me each moment of this day. Give me the wisdom, strength, and fortitude I need to avoid distractions, discern Your will, and focus on and carry out that which Wisdom reveals. Help me to work and live at a pace of peace and prayerfulness, always attentive to You, able to hear Your voice and to say no to anything that hinders my journey to You and a complete yes to every Holy prompting from You.

Help me to humbly and purposefully live, light, and lead others to the path of union with You and to tell everyone about this way of life. Amen.

About the Author

Bartunek-headshotFr. John Bartunek was ordained in 2003. He has taught moral theology at various ecclesiastical institutions at the graduate and undergraduate levels, and has authored many books, including the Gospel companion, The Better Part, and Inside the Passion, the only authorized behind-the-scenes look at the film, for which he provided on-set spiritual support. His online retreat guides are available in multiple formats at RCSpirituality.org. Fr. John currently resides in Atlanta, where he is serving as territorial vicar for the Legionaries of Christ.

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26-04-02-DM

April 2, 2026 – The Washing of the Feet

/ Daily Meditations

Holy Thursday

 

John 13:1-15

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.”

Opening Prayer: Dear Jesus, help me to realize what you have done for me by washing the disciples’ feet. Help me to accept your love and then humbly pour that love out to others.

Encountering Christ:

  1. Let Jesus Wash Your Feet: Jesus washed his disciples’ feet as a sign of love and service, and as an outward sign of their cleansing. When Peter refused to let Christ wash his feet, Jesus said, “Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me” (Jn 13:8). Let’s face it, our feet can sometimes be unpleasant. Here, Jesus calls us to be vulnerable and allow him to love us by washing our feet. Let us be humble so that we can show him the ugliest, most unpleasant parts of our lives. Let him gently hold, cleanse, and restore the parts of ourselves that we want to hide from the world. Let us offer him our shame, failures, and faults so that he can redeem them. If we are to be Jesus’ disciples, we must allow him to wash our feet.

     

  2. Imitating Christ: In Jesus’ time, washing people’s feet was usually a task for the lowliest of servants. Jesus exhorted his disciples to wash one another’s feet (cf. Jn 13:14). We are called to imitate Christ and serve one another in the same way. May we seek to humbly serve others in Christ’s name. Let us search for the face of Christ in all people, so that when we serve others, we fulfill God’s command to love him by loving our neighbors: “Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me” (Mt 25:40). If we are to be Jesus’ disciples, we must wash each others’ feet.

     

  3. Gracious Receptivity: If we are to wash one another’s feet, that means sometimes we will be the ones receiving the foot washing. Are we too prideful to allow others to minister to us? Let us seek to humble ourselves and allow others to help us in our daily struggles. May we give others the honor of serving Christ in us. We can practice this by doing small things, such as receiving compliments graciously, accepting others’ offers of help with gratitude, or asking friends to pray for us when we are in need. If we are to be Jesus’ disciples, we must allow others to wash our feet.

Conversing with Christ: Jesus, please wash my feet. I offer you my faults, failures, hurts, anxieties, and sins. Dear Lord, please redeem these parts of me. I am ashamed of them, but I trust in your tender mercy and love. Help me to wash other people’s feet through my humble service to them. Finally, grant me the humility to allow other people the honor of ministering to me when I am in need.

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will take on humble or unpleasant tasks willingly out of love for you and others.

Carey Boyzuck is a wife, mother, freelance writer, and a lay member of Regnum Christi. She blogs at www.word-life-light.com.

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Alex Kucera

Atlanta

Alex Kucera has lived in Atlanta, GA, for the last 46 years. He is one of 9 children, married to his wife Karmen, and has 3 girls, one grandson, and a granddaughter on the way. Alex joined Regnum Christi in 2007. Out of the gate, he joined the Helping Hands Medical Missions apostolate and is still participating today with the Ghana Friendship Mission.

In 2009, Alex was asked to be the Atlanta RC Renewal Coordinator for the Atlanta Locality to help the RC members with the RC renewal process. Alex became a Group Leader in 2012 for four of the Atlanta Men’s Section Teams and continues today. Running in parallel, in 2013, Alex became a Team Leader and shepherded a large team of good men.

Alex was honored to be the Atlanta Mission Coordinator between 2010 to 2022 (12 years), coordinating 5-8 Holy Week Mission teams across Georgia. He also created and coordinated missions at a parish in Athens, GA, for 9 years. Alex continues to coordinate Holy Week Missions, Advent Missions, and Monthly missions at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Cumming, GA.

From 2016 to 2022, Alex also served as the Men’s Section Assistant in Atlanta. He loved working with the Men’s Section Director, the Legionaries, Consecrated, and Women’s Section leadership teams.

Alex is exceptionally grateful to the Legionaries, Consecrated, and many RC members who he’s journeyed shoulder to shoulder, growing his relationship with Christ and others along the way. He knows that there is only one way, that’s Christ’s Way, with others!