HOLY THURSDAY REFLECTION
20 March 2008 Holy Thursday – Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper (A) - White
First Reading: Exodus 12:1-8,11-14
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 116 "Our blessing-cup is a communion with the Blood of Christ"
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Gospel: John 13:1-15
In the Eucharist, we become Priests who live in Love
The Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper, celebrated on Holy Thursday afternoon, signals the Church’s entry into the Solemn Paschal Triduum of Lord’s Passion, Death and Resurrection. We say goodbye to the penitential season of Lent; we now join the Lord Jesus Christ on his suffering, death and his salvific Resurrection.
The Mass of the Lord’s Supper highlights three important pillars of our Eucharistic Celebration: the Holy Mass, the gift of priesthood, and the commandment of Brotherly Love. These three things actually make up what we celebrate daily, and for most of us, every Sunday.
First, the Holy Mass. Today we commemorate the solemn institution of the Most Holy Eucharist. Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, joined his disciples for supper – a special supper – that he actually planned, prepared, and celebrated. In the gospel of St. Luke, we see Jesus summoning some of his disciples to prepare the Upper Room, for them to celebrate this holy meal, with wine and unleavened bread. This actually is a commemoration of the Jewish Passover – from the slavery of Egypt to freedom into the Promised Land. Jesus took seat at the supper table and offered bread and wine which he promised to be his body and blood. He gave these species to his disciples, telling them that as often as they do this, it will be in his remembrance. Two thousand years from that time, we now celebrate the Holy Mass – our own celebration of Jesus’ Last Supper – our celebration from sin to new life in Christ.
Second, the gift of Priesthood. During the Last Supper, Jesus called his disciples to be part of his total giving-out of himself to others. Thus, the disciples were the first priests who witnessed the first celebration of the Holy Eucharist. Now, we are called to priests – to spread the Good News to others, to celebrate and live the Holy Eucharist, and to be Christ’s representative in this world. We are called to be Christ-like – to take up our own crosses on the way to Calvary, and to join Christ in the victory of his Resurrection.
Lastly, Christ’s commandment of Brotherly Love. Today we witness the mandatum – the reenactment of the Washing of Feet. In today’s gospel, we hear in full detail the account of Jesus’ Last Supper and washing of the feet. St. John tells us that Jesus, stripped off his cloak and washed the feet of his disciples. Jesus was humble. Jesus showed that the dirty act of cleaning the dirtiest part of the body can be done – even by the Son of God. In Jewish culture, this act is the dirtiest, only done by the servants to their masters. Jesus showed this great love by serving our brothers and sisters. We are called tonight to be servant-lovers – to serve our brothers and sisters means to love them; to offer them our lives. We are called to wash one another’s feet. We are called to humility – to divest of our own riches, glamour, and personality to share our lives with our brothers and sisters.
Tonight, as we transfer Jesus in the Altar of Repose, we watch over with him, we pray with him, we stay with him. Like his disciples, we join him in prayer. As we remember the sufferings of the Man on the cross, we offer ourselves to the Lord, offering ourselves to our brothers and sisters.
Let us be worthy to enter the Paschal Triduum by keeping watch and praying with Jesus that through the Eucharist, we become priests of God sharing the love and humility that Jesus modeled for us. We pray in this Eucharist that we may be cleansed from our sins and be with Christ in his agony in the garden, in his trial, his passion, his death on the cross. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Elijah Justin S. Segovia
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