I - Ex. 12: 1-8, 11-14
II - 1Cor. 11: 23-26
III - Jh. 13: 1-11
HOLY THURSDAY
Today the Churches remembers the Passover of Jesus and his farewell meal with his disciples. The three significant events of the day are: Commandment of love, Institution of the Holy Eucharist and the Institution of the Priesthood.
Commandment of Love: By washing the feet of his disciples Jesus gives a new orientation to leadership and authority as service: “You call me ‘Master’ and ‘Lord’, and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you” (Jh. 13: 13-15). By the act of Jesus we are exhorted to stoop down to the level of the least of our brethren with an attitude of humility and service with an attitude of "love one another as I have loved you" and this is the style of leadership modelled after our Master Jesus Christ.
Institution of the Holy Eucharist: The first reading is about the Lord’s Passover that that marked the liberation of the people of Israel under the leadership of Moses, from the bondage of the Egyptians. An unblemished lamb was killed as a sign of the Passover. The night before our Lord Jesus suffered on the cross, he established a new covenant with his disciples, a Passover to be celebrated perennially as a remembrance of his presence with us until he comes again in his glory. In the New covenant that Jesus established, Jesus Himself was the innocent Lamb of God, who willingly and lovingly gave us his body and blood as our food and drink for our pursuit of a journey towards eternal life assuring liberation from sin to eternal bliss. May we take part in the meal of the Lord with profound love and sentiments of gratitude.
Institution of the Priesthood: A priest is an embodiment of Christ Himself. Priests administer the Holy Sacraments and lead the flock of God tending them carefully unto his fold through their sacrificing life of service, love, dedication and commitment. It is impossible even to imagine the Church without priests! Priesthood is a grace to the individual and a gift to the Church. On this great day, pray for the priests who make visible the presence of Jesus Christ on the altar for His people. Let us today praise God for priests, pray in a special way for them and invoke Him for many more priestly vocations in the Church.
May our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Lord Jesus, thank you for your body and blood, teach us to be like you in our loving service towards our neighbour and bless our priests who make a lot of sacrifices on our behalf”.
