It is 24th March 2016. We celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. The readings are from Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14; 1Corinthians 11:23-26; and the Gospel from John 13:1-15. We remember three most foundational celebrations of our faith. We celebrate the memory of the first Holy Mass on the earth, the gift of Priesthood to the Church and to continue the promise of a new commandment of love. The first reading presents the first Passover in Egypt, while the second reading addresses the institution of the Most Holy Eucharist. On this day, symbolic lamb is replaced with true lamb Jesus Christ. “Christ our paschal lamb was sacrificed.” (1 Cor.5:7). The Catechism clarifies the deeper meaning of the Jewish Passover in No. CCC, 1340, “Jesus passing over to his father by his death and Resurrection, the new Passover, is anticipated in the Supper and celebrated in the Eucharist, which fulfils the Jewish Passover and anticipates the final Passover of the Church in the glory of the kingdom.” The responsorial Psalm praises, “Our blessing-cup is a communion with the Blood of Christ.” (1 Cor.10:16). In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us the profound expression of being a servant by washing the feet of the apostles. All those who participate in the Banquet of love have to bend down to serve the others. The church enriches in the expression of priesthood only through the humility and service attach to it. Servant Priesthood is indeed the gift of God to the Church. We must remember our priests and the Bishops who are at the beck and call of the people of God all over the world. Let us remember the priests who are at the point of death, persecution and sufferings. Let not their human vulnerabilities overshadow our minds the potential inherent holiness in our priests. Let us not be hasty to condemn our priests rather to facilitate them and remind them often of their expected goodness and holiness in their humble service. The love, the Eucharist and the Priest are the essential fabrics of the Church. May God bless our Church with many more holy and committed priests to bring the commandment of love in reality. May you have a good day.