It is 28th March 2024.
We celebrate the Holy Thursday.
Are we praying for priests? Are Eucharist and service being centre of our faith and life?
We begin the Sacred Triduum of the Passion and the Resurrection of the Lord.
We reflect on Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; and John 13:1-15.
Three events are unfolding in our readings.
A new covenant of love displayed in the washing of feet, breaking of the bread, and instituting the Priesthood.
Jewish Passover celebrated by Jesus in which He instituted the Sacrament of Eucharist.
We are taught in (Lumen Gentium, 11. Presbyterorum Ordinis, 5). “The Eucharistic sacrifice is “the source and summit of the Christian life”.
“For the most holy Eucharist contains the Church’s entire spiritual wealth: Christ himself, our Passover and living bread. Through his own flesh, now made living and life-giving by the Holy Spirit, he offers life to men”.
The first reading narrates the Passover meal through which God liberated God’s people. In the second reading, St. Paul shares his conviction on the institution of the Eucharist during the Last Supper handed over to us the Church to remember as a thanksgiving. The Gospel presents us with the washing of the feet of the Apostles by Jesus inviting us to clean ourselves to continue the mission of Christ here on earth.
St. Augustine (354-430) confesses: “If you, therefore, are Christ’s body and members, it is your own mystery that is placed on the Lord’s table! It is your own mystery that you are receiving! You are saying ‘Amen’ to what you are: your response is a personal signature, affirming your faith. When you hear ‘The body of Christ’, you reply ‘Amen.’ Be a member of Christ’s body, then, so that your “Amen” may ring true!” (Sermon 272).
There is new liberation, the Penance and Reconciliation; a new Pasch, the Eucharist; a New Lamb, the Mystical Body of Christ; a New unleavened bread, Jesus himself.
Let us not forget the broken Christ of our community the poor, the elderly, the sick and dying.
Kindly pray for me too so that I continue to be faithful to God, and the Church in serving the faithful.
May our love for one another seen in a concrete action of charity.
May God bless you. Have a good day.