Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Holy Thursday 21-04-2011

Exodus 12:1-2, 1-8, 11-14/ 1 Corinthians 11:23-26/ John 13:1-15

Today we begin the Holy Triduum with the commemoration of the Lord’s Supper, which was actually the Institution of the Holy Eucharist.

Today is called Holy Thursday. Some of us may remember that it is also called Maundy Thursday.

That word “Maundy” is derived from the Latin word “mandatum” which means mandate.

It refers to the new commandment of love that Jesus gave to His apostles at the Last Supper.

Jesus also instituted the Holy Eucharist and He commanded His apostles to do likewise when He said: Do this in memory of me.

Yet the strange thing is that the gospel we have just heard did not mention anything about Jesus consecrating bread and wine into His body and blood.

Instead there is this intriguing account of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples.

The account began by saying that Jesus had always loved those who were His, and now He showed how perfect His love was.

He got up, took a towel, poured water into a basin and then washed His disciples’ feet.

So, how would washing His disciples’ feet show how great His love was?

Well, for one, let us remember that it was not just the Master washing His disciples’ feet.

It was God washing man’s feet!

It was literally an out-of-this-world act of humility.

Yes, it was certainly out of this world. Yet it was as downright as an act that was out of the will.

In other words, Jesus was willing to wash His disciples’ feet. He was willing and that’s what make it loving.

Similarly, He was willing to give us His body and blood, and that’s what makes the Eucharist so loving.

In the simple humble act of washing the feet, Jesus showed us what the Eucharist is all about and what our service should be like.

Indeed, Jesus has always loved us and He showed us how deep His love is and how willingly He loved us, even to accepting death on the cross.

So later, let us spend the rest of the evening with Jesus at the Altar of Repose.

Let us stay with Jesus in His agony in the garden.

Let us recall the words of Jesus: Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass me by. Nevertheless, let Your will be done, not mine.

Jesus willingly washed His disciples’ feet. Jesus willingly gave us His body and blood.

We only need to understand this – in order to do it lovingly, we must first do it willingly.

In short, we must be willingly to love. Jesus gave us the example and the mandate. Let us humbly and willingly do it.