Homily (Reflection) for Maundy Thursday
(Mass of the Lord’s Supper) (24th March, 2016) on the Gospel and the
celebration
Ex 12:1-8.11-14;
Ps 115:12-13.15-18. (R. cf. 1Cor
10:16); 1Cor 11:23-26;
Jn 13:1-15.
General norms for the Liturgical
Year number 18 reads: “Christ accomplished
the work of redemption and the perfect glorification of God principally through
his Paschal mystery, in which dying he destroyed our death and rising he
restored our life [cf. Rom 5:8; 1Thess
5:10]. Hence, the Sacred Easter Triduum of the Lord’s Passion and
Resurrection shines forth as the culmination of the whole liturgical year.” Sacred
Easter Triduum refers to Holy (Maundy) Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy
Saturday. These days are considered the three most sacred days and are
otherwise known as the Paschal Triduum. It begins with the Mass of the Lord’s
Supper.
In Sacred Easter
Triduum the Church makes present and fulfils the mystery of Christ’s passing
from the world to the Father, cf. Jn
16:28. Before the beginning of the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, the
tabernacle is completely empty. Gloria is sung and the church bells may be rung
and then are silent until the Gloria of the Easter Vigil. The feet of selected people
are washed. After the Post Communion prayer, the Holy Eucharist is transferred
to an appropriate place (Altar of Repose). Every faithful is expected to spend
time with the Lord who calls us to stay awake and remain with him in adoration,
cf. Matt 26:38. The altar is later completely
stripped. Crucifixes are either removed from the church or veiled. Christ has
been delivered into the hands of sinners to suffer the most ignoble death for
us to live, cf. Matt 26:45; 1Thess 5:10, 1Jn 4:9.
Topic: Christ’s legacies.
In this Mass, we celebrate among
others two main mysteries: the institution of the sacrament of the Holy
Eucharist and the command to be others’ slave, cf. Mk 10:44. The Holy Eucharist is the sacrament of love. It is the
celebration of Christ’s giving of himself for us which is the greatest form of
love, cf. Jn 15:13. Therefore
participation in the Holy Eucharist is participation in Christ’s love.
However, receiving the Holy Eucharist is not a mark of being
good Christian. Jesus tells us: “By this all men will know that you are my
disciples, if you have love for one another” (Jn 13:35). Again, Judas received it before all of us and we know
what it brought for him, cf. Jn 13:21-27.
Participating in Christ’s love and the call to love others are inseparable.
In the gospel according to Saint Mark we read:
“42... You know that among the Gentiles those whom they
recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants
over them. 43But it is
not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your
servant, 44and whoever
wishes to be first among you must be slave of all” (Mk 10:42-44).
In the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, Jesus is both the
victim and the priest, and in giving the new commandment, he was also both the
teacher and the instructional material. It is important to note that in the
Jewish tradition, it is the function of slaves to wash others’ feet. So, the
washing of feet in this Mass is a symbolical representation of the humility of
Christ, who “... came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a
ransom for many” (Matt 20:28, cf. Mk 10:45).
In one parish, the catechist after selecting people for the
washing of the feet submitted their names to the parish priest. Among these was
the name of a man who opposes everything the parish priest says and does. On
seeing this, he quickly asked the catechist, ‘Why not include Satan in the list?’
Remember that Christ washed the feet of all the apostles including that of Judas.
If we select only those we considered as our friends, what are we doing?
One priest during the meeting of the bishop and his priests referred
to the bishop as an unworthy bishop and the bishop reacted quickly. For the
bishop, the priest just insulted him but the priest reminded him that he (the
bishop) has been referring to himself during the consecration and while
addressing them as an unworthy bishop (servant). And the bishop retorted “But
you mean the one you just said now.” “So you never meant what you have been
saying?” queried the priest. And there was silence.
St. Augustine rightly admonishes us to approach the Holy
Eucharist humbly, ponder worthily so great a favour, and be aware that we must
be ready to do for others what Christ first did for us (Divine Office II, 1974, p. 277). Christ is saying to all of us:
“13You call me Teacher and Lord–and you are right for
that is what I am. 14So
if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one
another’s feet. 15For I
have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you” (Jn 13:13-15).
Pray for ministerial priests in a special way today because
the Holy Eucharist cannot be celebrated without ministerial priest. Hence, we
celebrate today also the ordination of the first set of ministerial priests – the
apostles by Christ himself. Once more, pray for priests today. Finally, I need your
prayers most.
Bible Reading: Jn 6:22-71; Matt 5:43-48;
22:34-40; 1Jn 4:7-21; 1Thess 5:1-10.
Thought for today:
Christ has given us Himself as a sign of His love and also asks us to love each
other.
Let us pray: Lord, as we celebrate your Supper, soak
us always in your love to be able to love you in the Holy Eucharist and others
as you love us – Amen.
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