Holy Thursday: A Call to the Eucharistic Banquet with the Lord

As we celebrate the Holy Thursday also known as the 'Maundy Thursday', we recall the institution of the Holy Eucharist and the Priesthood. The first Passover meal described in today's first reading was a night of darkness and chaos, when the angel of death passed over the land of Egypt. In the Passover meal celebrated by Jesus in today's Gospel, He tells us the value of service and love. Within this celebration, He washed the feet of His disciples. Allowing our feet to be washed means identifying with this action of Jesus and allowing it to influence us so that we can extend same action to the world. Jesus washing His disciples’ feet in the context of the Last Supper surely teaches us that the Eucharist is linked with service.

Our celebration of the Eucharist should lead us to love in a sacrificial way. The celebration of Eucharist sends us out to love and serve the Lord in others. Jesus gave His new love commandment within the Eucharistic celebration: “...Love one another, as I have loved you” (Jn 13:34). We must emerge and build places of love in the midst of a chaotic and dark world. Just as Jesus took the bread, blessed, broke and gave it, when we receive the Eucharist we are to allow ourselves to be taken by Jesus, blessed, broken and given in love for others. In that sense, the words of Paul in our second reading become true: “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes” (1 Cor. 11:26).

May the Lord send His mercy so that our life may proclaim Christ to the nations! Amen!! Good morning and Happy Anniversary to my brother Priests!!!