1. Jesus was humiliated in the very heart of his own teaching when the
disciples were fighting for position. So he does three things: a. he exchanges
the symbol of position with a symbol of service (stole with towel), b. they
want to “take” and he says “Take this and eat” and he “gives”; c. finally he
prays to the Father to keep them together in unity. These are the 3 symbols we
used as we began the Lent on Ash Wednesday: a. fasting is what we do to
ourselves (humility-washing – vis-à-vis love yourself), b. almsgiving is what
we do for others (love your neighbour) and finally c. prayer is what we do with
God (love God). These are the foundations of our faith – the two commandments
lived, explained, understood differently.
2. Meals (food and drink) are so part and parcel of the life and ministry
of Jesus because they are so integral to every human being. As much as we make
the distinction that we are not here to live to eat we cannot also forget to
include it as the struggle of so many families to put bread on their tables. Jesus
does not forget to include it in the “Our Father”. So, we should not only
concentrate on the Eucharist, priesthood and service, but also family meals,
outings, picnics where families are joined together and blessed with care,
companionship through the great moments of family meals. Buzz Aldrin made sure
that the first meal ever consumed on the surface of the moon was the communion
elements.
3. Why did Jesus choose a meal to keep a memorial for himself? Because we
will never forget to eat. Gathering together brings joy, fellowship, life. But
it takes sacrifice, concern thoughtfulness to create a good meal. Nothing else
becomes so part of us as food. And it gives energy. In Samaria, it’s water, in
Cana, it’s wine, in the outskirts, it’s bread and fish sandwiches of a boy,
it’s fish again by the seashore for Peter, it’s the crumps for the Canaanite
woman and Lazarus and it was bread on the Emmaus journey. Participation and
thanks by meals meant attention by Martha, Peter’s mother-in-law serving a
dinner, Simon’s house, “give them something to eat”. Participation meant also
how you are dressed and welcomed: guests at the wedding feast, in Simon’s
house, rich people inviting their friends, go to the by lanes, …..inclusion…..
****
The Meeting
The Meeting
Years ago a
Chicago
restaurant had specially printed place mats at all its tables.
The mats
were designed exclusively for the restaurant. And if you asked the waitress,
she’d give you one to take home, frame, and hang on your wall. Let me share with you the wording that appeared on those mats. It went something like this:
"In 1923 an important meeting took place at
"The president of the largest steel company, the president of the largest utility company, the president of the largest gas company,
The president of the New York Stock Exchange, the president of the Bank of International Settlements, the greatest wheat speculator, the greatest bear on Wall Street, the head of the world's greatest monopoly, a member of President Harding's cabinet."
That's a pretty impressive line-up of people. Yet, 25 years later, where were those nine industrial giants?
According to the story on the place mat, the president of the largest steel company, Charles Schwab, died a bankrupt;
The president of the largest utility company, Samuel Insull, died penniless;
The president of the largest gas company, Howard Hobson, had gone insane;
The president of the New York Stock Exchange, Richard Whitney, was just released from prison; the bank president, Leon Fraser, died a suicide; the wheat speculator, Arthur Cutten, died penniless;
The Wall Street bear, Jesse Livermore, died a suicide; the head of the world's greatest monopoly, Ivar Kruegar, died a suicide; the member of President Harding's cabinet, Albert Fall, was
Practical Application: Self-service is no service. We are
programmed to look only to our own needs; we find it hard to include the needs
of others. We are made to be served and waited upon; we find it difficult to
serve and wait upon others. We are constituted to promote our personal advantage;
we find it distasteful to promote the advantage of others. Yet the whole thrust
of Holy Thursday is that to be Christian means to serve others. Self-service is
no service.
Paul's
community at Corinth
was a divided community. At the church suppers which preceded the Eucharist,
individuals provided only for themselves to the point where some became
intoxicated and others went hungry. For Paul, this community could not proclaim
the death of the Lord. They did not act out in daily living the dying of Jesus
for others. To celebrate Eucharist meant to embark upon a way of living in
which one met the needs of others. For Paul, self-service is no service.
The
Johannine community believed in a theology of reaching out to the members of
the community. The foot washing became, therefore, a symbolic action which had
to be reproduced in the lives of the community. In John, the authentic follower
of Jesus is one who will not eschew washing the feet of the other members. To
hail Jesus as Lord and Master meant to make oneself servant and slave of all.
Humble service became the Christian hallmark. In John, self-service is no
service.
Husbands
and wives who constantly look to each other's needs show their Christian way.
Children who consistently seek to provide for the needs of the family reveal
Christian values. Leaders who regularly spend their time and energies in
promoting the good of their people give evidence of Christianity. The gifted,
both married and single, who habitually donate their skills and talents to aid
the less gifted demonstrate the following of Jesus. All those who look beyond
themselves to meet the problems and needs of others live out the theology of
Holy Thursday. In Christianity, concern for just oneself is inadequate.
Self-service is no service.
Eucharist
reflects a Lord and Master who makes himself servant and slave. Eucharist takes
the death-style of Jesus and offers it as the life-style of the community.
Eucharist compels the community to act as a community by meeting common needs.
To eat and drink with Jesus means to rise and offer oneself as food and drink
to others. Eucharist thereby announces that self-service is no service.
**********
From Fr. Tony
Kadavil:
Introduction: On
Holy Thursday we celebrate three anniversaries: 1) the anniversary of the first
Holy Mass, 2) the anniversary of the institution of ministerial priesthood in
order to perpetuate the Holy Mass, convey God’s forgiveness to repentant
sinners and preach the Good News of Salvation, 3) the anniversary of Jesus’
promulgation of His new commandment of love: “Love one another as I have loved
you.” Today we remember how Jesus transformed the Jewish Passover into the New
Testament Passover. The Jewish Passover was, in fact, a joint celebration
of two ancient thanksgiving celebrations. The descendants of Abel, who
were shepherds, used to lead their sheep from the winter pastures to the summer
pastures after the sacrificial offering of a lamb to God. They called this
celebration the “Pass over." On the other hand, the descendants of
Cain, who were farmers, held a harvest festival called the Massoth in which
they offered unleavened bread to God as an act of thanksgiving. The
Passover feast of the Israelites (Exodus 12:26-37) was a harmonious combination
of these two ancient feasts of thanksgiving, commanded by the Lord God to be
celebrated yearly by all Israelites to thank God for the miraculous liberation
of their ancestors from Egypt and their exodus from slavery to the Promised
Land.
Scripture lessons:
In the first reading, God gives the Hebrews two instructions: prepare for
the moment of liberation by a ritual meal and make a symbolic mark on your
homes to exempt yourselves from the coming slaughter. In the second reading,
Paul suggests that the celebration of the Lord's Supper was an unbroken
tradition from the very beginning of the Church. By it, Christians reminded
themselves of the death and Resurrection of Jesus. Today’s Gospel
describes how Jesus transformed the Jewish Passover into the Eucharistic
celebration. After washing the feet of His Apostles and commanding them to do
humble service for each other, Jesus concluded the ceremony by
giving His Apostles His own Body and Blood under the appearances of bread
and wine as spiritual food and drink, in addition to serving the roasted Pascal
lamb.
Life Messages:
1) A challenge for humble service. Our celebration of the Eucharist requires that we wash one another’s feet, i.e., serve one another, and revere Christ's presence in other persons. In practical terms, that means we are to consider their needs to be as important as our own and to serve their needs, without expecting any reward. 2) A loving invitation for sacrificial sharing and self-giving love. Let us imitate the Self-giving model of Jesus Who shares with us His own Body and Blood and Who enriches us with His Real Presence in the Holy Eucharist. It is by sharing our blessings – our talents, time, health and wealth - with others that we become true disciples of Christ and obey his new commandment: “Love one another as I have loved you.” 3) An invitation to become Christ-bearers and Christ-conveyers: "Go forth, the Mass is ended," really means, “Go in peace to love and serve one another’’ We are to carry Jesus to our homes and places of work, conveying to others around us the love, mercy, forgiveness and spirit of humble service of Christ Whom we carry with us.
Introduction: On
Holy Thursday, we celebrate three anniversaries: 1) the anniversary of the
first Holy Mass, 2) the anniversary of the institution of ministerial
priesthood in order to perpetuate the Holy Mass, convey God’s forgiveness to
repentant sinners and preach the Good News of Salvation, 3) the anniversary of
the promulgation of Jesus’ new commandment of love: “Love one another as I have
loved you.” Today we remember how Jesus transformed the Jewish Passover into
the New Testament Passover. In its origins, the Jewish Passover was, in
fact, a joint celebration of two ancient thanksgiving celebrations. The
descendants of Abel, who were shepherds, used to lead their sheep from the
winter pastures to the summer pastures after the sacrificial offering to God of
a lamb. They called this celebration the “Pass over." On the
other hand, the descendants of Cain, who were farmers, held a harvest festival
called the Massoth in which they offered unleavened bread to God as an act of
thanksgiving. The Passover feast of the Israelites (Exodus 12:26-37), was
a harmonious combination of these two ancient feasts of thanksgiving, commanded
by the Lord God to be celebrated yearly by all Israelites to thank God for the
miraculous liberation of their ancestors from Egypt and their exodus from
slavery to the Promised Land.
The Jewish Passover was a
seven-day celebration, during which unleavened bread was eaten.
The Passover meal began with the singing of the first part of the
“Hallel” Psalms (Ps 113 &114), followed by the first cup of wine.
Then those gathered at table ate bitter herbs, sang the second part of
the “Hallel” Psalms (Ps 115-116), drank the second cup of wine and listened as
the oldest man in the family explained the significance of the event, in answer
to the question raised by a child. This was followed by the eating of a
lamb (the blood of which had previously been offered to God in sacrifice),
roasted in fire. The participants divided and ate the roasted lamb and unleavened
Massoth bread, drank the third cup of wine and sang the major “Hallel"
Psalms (117-118). In later years, Jews celebrated a miniature form of the
Passover every Sabbath day and called it the “Love Feast.”
Exegesis:
Jesus’ transformation of his last Seder meal (Last Supper) into the first Eucharistic celebration is described for us in today’s second reading and Gospel. Jesus, the Son of God, began His Passover celebration by washing the feet of His disciples (a service assigned to household servants), as a lesson in humble service, proving that He “came to the world not to be served but to serve.” (Mark 10:45). He followed the ritual of the Jewish Passover meal up to the second cup of wine. After serving the roasted lamb as a third step, Jesus offered His own Body and Blood as food and drink under the appearances of bread and wine. Thus, He instituted the Holy Eucharist as the sign and reality of God’s perpetual presence with His people as their living, Heavenly Food. This was followed by the institution of the priesthood with the command, “Do this in memory of me." Jesus concluded the ceremony with a long speech incorporating His command of love: “Love one another as I have loved you.” Thus, Jesus instituted the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist at a private Passover meal with His disciples (Matthew 26:17-30; Luke 21:7-23). He served as both the Host and the Victim of the Sacrifice. He became the Lamb of God, as John the Baptist had previously predicted (John 1:29, 36), Who takes away the sins of the world.
Jesus’ transformation of his last Seder meal (Last Supper) into the first Eucharistic celebration is described for us in today’s second reading and Gospel. Jesus, the Son of God, began His Passover celebration by washing the feet of His disciples (a service assigned to household servants), as a lesson in humble service, proving that He “came to the world not to be served but to serve.” (Mark 10:45). He followed the ritual of the Jewish Passover meal up to the second cup of wine. After serving the roasted lamb as a third step, Jesus offered His own Body and Blood as food and drink under the appearances of bread and wine. Thus, He instituted the Holy Eucharist as the sign and reality of God’s perpetual presence with His people as their living, Heavenly Food. This was followed by the institution of the priesthood with the command, “Do this in memory of me." Jesus concluded the ceremony with a long speech incorporating His command of love: “Love one another as I have loved you.” Thus, Jesus instituted the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist at a private Passover meal with His disciples (Matthew 26:17-30; Luke 21:7-23). He served as both the Host and the Victim of the Sacrifice. He became the Lamb of God, as John the Baptist had previously predicted (John 1:29, 36), Who takes away the sins of the world.
The transformation of Jesus’
Passover into the Holy Mass: The early Jewish Christians
converted the Jewish “Sabbath Love Feast” of Fridays and Saturdays (the
Sabbath), into the “Memorial Last Supper Meal” of Jesus on Sundays. The
celebration consisted of praising and worshipping God by singing Psalms,
reading the Old Testament Messianic prophecies and listening to the teachings
of Jesus as explained by an Apostle or by an ordained minister. This was
followed by an offertory procession, bringing to the altar the bread and wine
to be consecrated and covered dishes (meals) brought by each family for a
shared common meal after the Eucharistic celebration. Then the ordained
minister said the “institution narrative” over the bread and wine, and all the
participants received the consecrated Bread and Wine, the living Body and Blood
of the crucified and risen Jesus. This ritual finally evolved into the
present day Holy Mass in various rites incorporating various cultural elements
of worship and rituals.
Life Messages:
1) We need to serve humbly. Our celebration of the Eucharist requires that we wash one another’s feet, i.e., serve one another, and revere Christ's presence in other persons. To wash the feet of others is to love them, even when they don't deserve our love. It is to do good to them, even if they don't return the favor. It is to consider others' needs to be as important as our own. It is to forgive others from the heart, even if they don't say, "I'm sorry." It is to serve them, even when the task is unpleasant. It is to let others know that we care when they feel downtrodden or burdened. It is to be generous with what we have. It is to turn the other cheek instead of retaliating when we're treated unfairly. It is to make adjustments in our plans in order to serve others' needs, without expecting any reward.
1) We need to serve humbly. Our celebration of the Eucharist requires that we wash one another’s feet, i.e., serve one another, and revere Christ's presence in other persons. To wash the feet of others is to love them, even when they don't deserve our love. It is to do good to them, even if they don't return the favor. It is to consider others' needs to be as important as our own. It is to forgive others from the heart, even if they don't say, "I'm sorry." It is to serve them, even when the task is unpleasant. It is to let others know that we care when they feel downtrodden or burdened. It is to be generous with what we have. It is to turn the other cheek instead of retaliating when we're treated unfairly. It is to make adjustments in our plans in order to serve others' needs, without expecting any reward.
2) We need to practice
sacrificial sharing and self-giving love.
Let us imitate the Self-giving model of Jesus Who shares with us His own
Body and Blood and enriches us with His Real Presence in the Holy Eucharist.
It is by sharing our blessings – our talents, time, health and wealth -
with others that we become true disciples of Christ and obey His new
commandment: “Love one another as I have loved you.”
3) We need to show our unity
in suffering. The bread we consecrate and partake of is produced by the
pounding of many grains of wheat, and the wine we consecrate and drink is the
result of the crushing of many grapes. Both are, thus, symbols of unity
through suffering. They invite us to help, console, support, and pray for
others who suffer physical or mental illnesses.
4) We need to heed the
warning: We need to make Holy Communion an occasion of Divine grace and
blessing by receiving Jesus worthily, rather than making our reception an
occasion of desecration and sacrilege by receiving Jesus while we are in grave
sin. That is why we pray three times before we receive Communion,
"Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us,"
with the final "have mercy on us" replaced by "grant us
peace." That is also the reason we pray the Centurion's prayer,
"Lord, I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof, but only say
the word and my soul shall be healed." And that is why the priest, just
before he receives consecrated Host, prays, "May the Body of Christ keep
me safe for eternal life," while, just before drinking from the Chalice,
he prays, "May the Blood of Christ keep me safe for eternal life."
5) We need to become
Christ-bearers and Christ-conveyers:
In the older English version of the Mass, the final message was, “Go in
peace to love and serve one another,” that is, to carry Jesus to our homes and
places of work, conveying to others around us the love, mercy, forgiveness and
spirit of humble service of Christ whom we carry with us. That message has not
changed, though the words are different.
ILLUSTRATIONS:
1 The Stole and the Towel:
1 The Stole and the Towel:
is the title of a book, which
sums up the message of the Italian bishop, Tony Bello, who died of cancer at
the age of 58. On Maundy Thursday of 1993, while on his deathbed, he
dictated a pastoral letter to the priests of his diocese. He called upon
them to be bound by "the stole and the towel." The stole
symbolizes union with Christ in the Eucharist, and the towel symbolizes union
with humanity by service. The priest is called upon to be united with the
Lord in the Eucharist and with the people as their servant. Today we
celebrate the institution of both the Eucharist and the priesthood: the feast
of "the stole and the towel," the feast of love and service.
2 “Jesus Christ gave a lasting memorial”:
One of his Catholic disciples
asked the controversial god-man Osho Rajneesh about the difference between
Buddha the founder of Buddhism and Jesus Christ. He told a story to
distinguish between Buddha and Christ. When Buddha was on his death bed, his
disciple Anand asked him for a memorial and Buddha gave him a Jasmine flower.
However, as the flower dried up, the memory of Buddha also dwindled. But Jesus
Christ instituted a lasting memorial, without anybody’s asking for it, by
offering His Body and Blood in the form of bread and wine and commanding His
disciples to share His Divinity by repeating the ceremony. So Jesus continues
to live in His followers while Buddha lives only in history books. On Holy
Thursday, we are reflecting on the importance of the institution of the Holy
Eucharist and the ministerial priesthood. [Osho Rajneesh claimed himself to be
another incarnation of God who attained “enlightenment” at 29 when he was a
professor of Hindu philosophy in Jabalpur University in India. He had thousands
of followers for his controversial “liberation through sex theology,” based on
Hindu, Buddhist and Christian theology.
3:
Why is the other side empty?
Have you ever noticed that in
Leonardo da Vinci’s painting of the Last Supper everybody is on one side of the
table? The other side is empty. "Why's that?" someone asked the great
artist. His answer was simple. "So that there may be plenty of room for us
to join them." Want to let Jesus do his thing on earth through you? Then
pull up a chair and receive him into your heart (Fr. Jack Dorsel).
4: Holy Communion on
the moon:
On July 20, 1969, the space rocket Apollo 11 became the
first manned vehicle to land on the surface of the moon carrying the astronauts
Neil Armstrong (commander), Michael Collins (pilot of the command module) and
Edwin Aldrin (commander of the lunar module). It was an event that inspired awe
all around the world. After landing on the moon, Aldrin radioed earth with
these words: "I'd like to take this opportunity to ask every person
listening in, whoever and wherever they may be, to pause for a moment and contemplate
the events of the past few hours, and to give thanks in his or her own
way." Then, when he journeyed out of the space module onto the moon's
surface, he did something quite significant. He took out a small home Communion
kit and became the first person to receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion on
the surface of the moon. This is to say that the event we celebrate this night
is the only religious rite in all the world that has been celebrated on the
surface of the moon. Here's an interesting sidebar. Aldrin kept his intent to
celebrate Holy Communion on the moon a secret, even from his fellow astronauts.
Why? Because earlier someone had filed a lawsuit regarding the reading of
Genesis 1 by the astronauts on Apollo 8 as they circled the earth on Christmas
Eve a few years earlier. (Chaikin, Andrew. A Man On The Moon. Cited at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buzz_Aldrin ) It is nice to know, isn't it, that
the Eucharist has been received by a man on the moon. It's much more critical
to know that we have this rite to celebrate because God came down to earth.
This is a rite initiated by the Master himself. Understanding that is
particularly significant when we read John's portrayal of that First Holy
Communion, which we know as the Last Supper.
5: "Now she's ready for living--in this life and the next."
TV pastor Robert Schuller tells about the time Bishop Fulton
Sheen spoke at the Crystal Cathedral. Fulton Sheen was one of the most
effective religious communicators of his time. In the early 1950s, his weekly
television broadcast was the most popular program in the country. Because he
was so popular, thousands of people came to hear Sheen at the Crystal
Cathedral. After the message, he and Robert Schuller were able to get to their
car only because a passageway was roped off. Otherwise, they would have been
mobbed. Along both sides of the ropes, people were reaching out in an attempt
to touch the bishop. It was as if the pope himself had come to town. As Sheen
was passing through this section on his way to his car, someone handed him a
note, which he folded and put into his pocket. Then, as he and Schuller were on
their way to the restaurant where they where going to eat lunch, Bishop Sheen
pulled out that note, read it, and asked Schuller, "Do you know where this
trailer park is?" Schuller looked at the note and said, "Yes, it's
just a couple of miles from here." The bishop said, "Do you think we
could go there before we go to lunch?" "Sure," Schuller
answered. "We have plenty of time." So they drove to this little
trailer park, and Bishop Sheen went up to one of the trailers and knocked on
the door. An elderly woman opened the door, and seemed
surprised--flabbergasted, really--when she saw who had come to visit her. She
opened the door and the bishop went in. After a few moments, he came out, got
back in the car and said, "Now she's ready for living--in this life and
the next." [Robert A. Schuller, Dump Your Hang-ups (Grand Rapids: Fleming
H. Revell, 1993).] Bishop Sheen showed the Spirit of Jesus on Holy Thursday.
6: A president in servant’s role:
"When I try to tell people what Ronald Reagan was
like," says Peggy Noonan, former White House speechwriter, "I tell
them the bathroom story." A few days after President Reagan had been shot,
when he was able to get out of bed, he wasn't feeling well, so he went into the
bathroom that connected to his room. He slapped some water on his face and some
of the water slopped out of the sink. He got some paper towels and got down on
the floor to clean it up. An aide went in to check on him, and found the
president of the United States on his hands and knees on the cold tile floor,
mopping up water with paper towels. "Mr. President," the aide said,
"what are you doing? Let the nurse clean that up!" And President
Ronald Reagan said, "Oh, no. I made that mess, and I'd hate for the nurse
to have to clean it up." [Pat Williams, The Paradox of Power (New York:
Warner Faith, 2002).]
7: Waiting and
remembering:
One day the professor of Eucharistic theology came in
carrying a brown paper bag, and declared that his theology students were going
to learn the significance of the Lord’s Supper. As he began to talk he reached
into the bag and pulled out a hand full of Buckeyes, and began throwing them,
one by one, to each member of the class. (If you are not familiar with the
Buckeye, it is the large, shiny brown seed of the Horse Chestnut tree. It is
especially abundant in Ohio which is the reason Ohio is known as the Buckeye
State.) The professor then reached into his own pocket and removed a small,
brown, shriveled up something. Holding it between his two fingers for all to
see he said to the class, “See this? This is a Buckeye like you have. I have
been carrying it around in my pocket since 1942. I had a son who went off to
the war that year. When he left he gave me this Buckeye, and told me to put it
in my pocket and keep it there until he came home. That way each time I reached
in my pocket I would always remember him. Well, I have been carrying that
Buckeye in my pocket since 1942. And I have been waiting. Waiting for my son to
come back, and each time I reach in my pocket I remember my son.” Eucharistic
celebration is about waiting and remembering. Each time, we, as a community of
faith, gather around the table to take the consecrated bread and cup we are
remembering, and we are proclaiming that we are waiting for our Lord to return.
(Jerry Fritz, http://leiningers.com/waiting.html).
8: "You don't recognize me, do you?”
There is an old legend about DaVinci's painting of the Last
Supper. In all of his paintings he tried to find someone to pose that fit the
face of the particular character he was painting. Out of hundreds of
possibilities he chose a young 19-year old to portray Jesus. It took him six
months to paint the face of Jesus. Seven years later DaVinci started hunting
for just the right face for Judas. Where could he find one that would portray
that image? He looked high and low. Down in a dark Roman dungeon he found a
wretched, unkempt prisoner to strike the perfect pose. The prisoner was
released to his care and when the portrait of Judas was complete the prisoner
said to the great artist, "You don't recognize me, do you? I am the man
you painted seven years ago as the face of Christ. O God, I have fallen so
low."
9: “Neither is your best good enough for Almighty
God."
There was once an old retired Methodist bishop who never
missed an opportunity to say a word for his Lord. One day he was in the
barbershop receiving a haircut from the young man who was his regular barber. There
was enough conversation in the shop to allow him to speak with his barber
privately, so he said, "Harry, how are you and the Lord getting
along?" Rather curtly the young man replied, "Bishop, I do the best I
can and that's good enough for me." The bishop said no more. When his
haircut was finished, he got up and paid the barber. Then he said with a smile,
"Harry, you work so hard that you deserve a break. Sit down, rest, and
have a coke. I'll cut the next customer's hair." The barber smiled and
said, "Bishop, I appreciate that but I can't let you do it."
"But why not?" asked the Bishop. "I promise to do my best."
"But," said the barber, "I'm afraid that your best wouldn't be
good enough." Then the bishop added the obvious, "And son, neither is
your best good enough for Almighty God."
10: Precious gift:
We are all familiar with the situation of the little boy who
wants to give his father a birthday present but does not have any money to buy
one. His father, realizing his son is too young and unable to make any money,
slips him five bucks so that he can do some shopping the next time they are in
town. The big day comes, and the little boy proudly presents his father with a
beautifully wrapped, birthday gift. He is so very happy and proud of himself.
So is his father - proud and happy to have such a loving son. God gave us his
Son so that we could give him back as a gift and become once again his sons and
daughters. Jesus Christ was placed in our hands so that we could have a gift,
the best of gifts. During each Eucharistic celebration we give this precious gift
back to God the Father. Today we celebrate the feast of the First Mass (Fr.
Jack Dorsel).
11: “Gone, But Not
for Cotton:”
There is an absolutely terrible old joke about a bill
collector in Georgia who knocked on the door of a client who lived out in a
rural area. This client owed the bill collector’s company money. “Is Fred
home?” he asked the woman who answered the door.” Sorry,” the woman replied.
“Fred’s gone for cotton.” The next day the collector tried again. “Is Fred here
today?” “No, sir,” she said, “I’m afraid Fred has gone for cotton.” When he
returned the third day, he said sarcastically, “I suppose Fred is gone for
cotton again?” “No,” the woman answered solemnly, “Fred died yesterday.”
Suspicious that he was being avoided, the bill collector decided to wait a week
and check out the cemetery himself. Sure enough, there was poor Fred’s
tombstone. On it was this inscription: “Gone, But Not for Cotton.” That’s
terrible, I know, but it is a reminder that tonight as we participate in the
Lord’s Supper, proclaiming that Christ is neither gone nor forgotten. We assert
our faith that he is present, here with us, as we receive Holy Communion in
remembrance of him.
12: “I still think
they are wonderful."
Dr. Robert Kopp tells of an interview someone did with the
great composer Irving Berlin. We remember Berlin for favorites like "God
Bless America," "Easter Parade," and "I'm Dreaming of a
White Christmas." Berlin was asked, "Is there any question you've
never been asked that you would like someone to ask you?" "Well, yes,
there is one," Berlin replied. He posed the question himself: "What
do you think of the many songs you've written that didn't become hits?"
Then he answered his own question: "My reply would be that I still think
they are wonderful." Then he added, "God, too, has an unshakable
delight in what--and whom--He has made. He thinks each of His children is
wonderful, and whether they're a ‘hit’ in the eyes of others or not, He will
always think they're wonderful." Irving Berlin hit it right on the head.
Here is the critical truth about faith--it is grounded in God's wondrous love
for us. We may not feel worthy to be loved, we may even repudiate that
love--but we cannot keep God from loving. That is God's very nature. God is
love.
13: “Forget-me-not:”
There is an old legend that after God finished creating the
world, He still had the task of naming every creature and plant in it. Anyone
who has ever faced the task of naming a newborn knows this is not as easy as it
seems. Thinking Himself finished at last, God heard a small voice saying,
"How about me?" Looking down, the Creator spied a small flower.
"I forgot you once," He said, "but it will not happen
again." And, at that moment, the forget-me-not was born. [The Great
American Bathroom Reader by Mark B. Charlton, (Barnes & Noble, New York,
1997), p. 260.} It's just a silly legend--a myth, if you will--but the reason
such legends and myths abound is that they reflect the truth about God. God
loves. God loves each of us as if God had no one else to love. Originally
developed to track Israeli secret-service agents abroad, the $5,000
battery-less Sky-Eye chip sold by Gen-Etics runs solely on the
neurophysiological energy generated within the human body. Gen-Etics won't
reveal where the chip is inserted but says 43 people have had it implanted.
("World Watch," edited by Anita Hamilton, Timedigital, Nov. 30, 1998,
p. 107.) It is amazing to me that it is easier for some people to believe that
technology can track an individual person's movements anywhere in the world,
but that somehow we are lost to God. How absurd. We are under the watchful eye
of a Heavenly Father who never forgets us, never leaves us and is always
concerned about our well-being.
14: "I missed."
Former President Reagan told a humorous story during the
last days of his administration. It was about Alexander Dumas, author of The
Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo. It seems that Dumas and a
friend had a severe argument. The matter got so out of hand that one challenged
the other to a duel. Both Dumas and his friend were superb marksmen. Fearing
that both men might fall in such a duel they resolved to draw straws instead.
Whoever drew the shorter straw would then be pledged to shoot himself. Dumas
was the unlucky one. He drew the short straw. With a heavy sigh, he picked up
his pistol and trudged into the library and closed the door, leaving the
company of friends who had gathered to witness the non-duel outside. In a few
moments a solitary shot was fired. All the curious pressed into the library.
They found Dumas standing with his pistol still smoking. "An amazing thing
just happened," said Dumas. "I missed." I am amazed how many
Christians have been in the church all their lives and still have missed the Gospel.
So many folks still live in the Old Testament, bound by legalisms, restricted
by the "Thou shalt nots" without being empowered by "Thou
shalts." Some are experts at the Ten Commandments, but absolute failures
at the eleventh and most important of all. Jesus said, "A new commandment
I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you
also love one another. By this all men shall know that you are my disciples, if
you have love one for another." (RSV)
15: "What did
you have for breakfast today?"
President Nelson Mandela of South Africa is one of those
rare politicians who has the common touch even when the cameras are not
rolling. When he speaks at banquets, he makes a point of going into the kitchen
and shaking hands with every dishwasher and busboy. When out in public he often
worries his bodyguards because he is prone to stop to talk with a little child.
Typically he will ask, "How old are you son?" Then his next question
is, "What did you have for breakfast today?" In that strange,
wonderful company called the Kingdom of God, even the bosses wash feet. Have
you allowed Jesus to give you a servant's heart and servant's hands? Be servant
leaders in a serving community.
16: He picked it up
and returned it to the bench:
Many years ago, a sticky situation arose at the wedding
ceremony for the Duke of York. All the guests and the wedding attendants were
in place. Majestic organ music filled the sanctuary of Westminster Abbey. But
something was wrong. As part of the marriage ceremony, the Duke and his bride
were to kneel on a cushioned bench to receive a blessing. A nervous whisper
spread through the congregation as guests noticed that one of the cushions from
the kneeling bench had fallen on the floor. Most of the attendants standing
near the kneeling bench had royal blood lines; at the very least, they were all
from the upper crust of British society. To reach down and pick up the pillow
would have been beneath them. They all pretended to ignore the misplaced pillow
until finally the Prince of Wales, who was a groomsman, picked it up and
returned it to the bench. (George C. Pidgeon) That may not impress us very
much, but in a society that is as class-conscious as British society is, this
was an extraordinary act. No wonder Jesus washed the feet of his disciples.
17: Jesus has no
desire to be cloned:
That night in the upper room Jesus knew what it would take
to change the world -- not strife and revolution, not warfare and bloodshed,
but love, sincere, self-sacrificing love on the part of his people. Last
November, Dr. Avi Ben-Abraham, head resident of the American Cryogenics
Society, told an audience in Washington, D.C., that several high-ranking Roman
Catholic Church leaders had privately told him that despite the church's public
stance against research in genetics and gene reproduction and experimentation
in artificial life production, they personally supported his way-out research.
According to Ben-Abraham, those church leaders hope to reproduce Jesus Christ
from DNA fibers found on the Shroud of Turin. If Dr. Ben-Abraham is right,
somebody’d better tell those venerable church leaders that Jesus has no desire
to be cloned -- except in the lives of those who love him and follow him.
That's why he takes bread and wine and gives us himself in Holy Communion, to
bring us forgiveness and to strengthen us to love one another. “This is My will
-- this is My commandment for you.”
18: The Beloved
Captain:
Donald Hankey’s The Beloved Captain tells how the captain
cared for his men’s feet. After long marches he went into the barracks to
inspect the feet of his soldiers. He’d get down on his hands and knees to take
a good look at the worst cases. If a blister needed lancing, he’d frequently
lance it himself. “There was no affectation about this,” says Donald Hankey.
“It seemed to have a touch of Christ about it, and we loved and honored him the
more” for it. – Is there a ‘touch of Christ’ about our concern for our brothers
and sisters? “Jesus, my feet are dirty…. Pour water into your basin and come
and wash my feet. I know that I am overbold is asking this, but I dread your
warning, when you said, ‘If I do not wash your feet, you can have no
companionship with me.’ Wash my feet, then, because I do want your
companionship.” Mark Link in ‘Daily Homilies’ (Fr. Botelho)
16) Pope missing: A story from the life of Pope John Paul II
brings home the profound significance of what we do tonight. Bishop John Magee,
who was personal secretary to the pope, tells about something that happened
after Pope John Paul's election. An official came to Vatican asking to speak
immediately with the new pope. Bishop Magee went to the pope's room. He was not
there. He went to the library, the chapel, the kitchen, even the roof. When he
couldn't find the pope, he began to think about Morris West's novel, The Shoes
of the Fisherman. In that novel a newly elected Slavic pope slips out of the
Vatican to find out what is happening with ordinary people in his new diocese.
That was fiction, but if the new pope actually did it, it might turn out badly.
So Bishop Magee ran to a priest who knew the pope. "We've lost the Holy
Father," he said. "I've looked everywhere and cannot find him."
The Polish priest asked calmly, "Did you look in the chapel?"
"Yes," said Bishop Magee, "he was nowhere in sight."
"Go further in," the Polish priest said, “but do not turn on the
light.” Bishop Magee walked quietly into the darkened chapel. In front of the
tabernacle, lying prostrate on the floor, was the pope. The Polish priest knew
that, before his election, the pope often prostrated himself before Jesus truly
present in the Blessed Sacrament. Tonight we commemorate that greatest of all
tangible gifts. St. Paul quotes Jesus saying, "This is my body that is for
you." Jesus gives himself to us in a humble form - unleavened bread like
that the Israelites ate during their Passover. (Fr. Phil Bloom).
************
From the Connections:
THE WORD:
The centerpiece of John’s Gospel account of the Last Supper is the mandatum -- from the Latin word for “commandment,” from which comes the traditional title for this evening, Maundy Thursday. At the Passover seder, the night before he died, Jesus established a new Passover to celebrate God's covenant with the new Israel. The special character of this second covenant is the mandatum of the washing of the feet -- to love one another as we have been loved by Christ.
The centerpiece of John’s Gospel account of the Last Supper is the mandatum -- from the Latin word for “commandment,” from which comes the traditional title for this evening, Maundy Thursday. At the Passover seder, the night before he died, Jesus established a new Passover to celebrate God's covenant with the new Israel. The special character of this second covenant is the mandatum of the washing of the feet -- to love one another as we have been loved by Christ.
(John makes no mention of the establishment of the Eucharist
in his account of the Last Supper. Chapters 14, 15 and 16 recount Jesus’
last instructions to his disciples, followed by his “high priestly prayer” in
chapter 17. The Johannine theology of the Eucharist is detailed in the
“bread of life” discourse following the multiplication of the loaves and fish
at Passover, in chapter 6 of his Gospel.)
Tonight’s first reading recounts the origin and ritual of
the feast of Passover, the Jewish celebration of God's breaking the chains of
the Israelites’ slavery in Egypt and leading them to their own land,
establishing a covenant with them and making of them his own beloved people.
The deep divisions in the Corinthian community have led to
abuses and misunderstandings concerning the “breaking of the bread.” In
addressing these problems and articulating the proper spirit in which to
approach the Lord’s Supper, Paul provides us with the earliest written account
of the institution of the Eucharist, the Passover of the new covenant (this
evening's second reading). If we fail to embrace the spirit of love and
servanthood in which the gift of the Eucharist is given to us, then “Eucharist”
becomes a judgment against us.
HOMILY POINTS:
The Eucharist, instituted this night, comes at a price all
must be willing to pay: We must become what we have received – we must
become, for others, Christ the healer, Christ the compassionate and selfless
brother, Christ the humble “washer of feet.”
Jesus, who revealed the wonders of God in stories about
mustard seeds, fishing nets and ungrateful children, on this last night of his
life -- as we know life -- leaves his small band of disciples his most
beautiful parable: As I have washed your feet like a slave, so you
must wash the feet of each other and serve one another. As I have loved
you without limit or condition, so you must love one another without limit or
condition. As I am about to suffer and die for you, so you must suffer
and, if necessary, die for one another. Tonight’s parable is so
simple, but its lesson is so central to what being a real disciple of Christ is
all about. When inspired by the love of Christ, the smallest act of
service done for another takes on extraordinary dimensions.
From Fr. Jude
Botelho:
The Book of Exodus tells us how the Lord ordered the
Israelites to keep the Paschal meal. Each family had to kill a lamb and smear
the doorposts with the blood of the lamb. The lamb should be roasted and eaten
standing to signify their readiness to pass from the land of slavery to the
land of promise. It would also signify the passing of the angel of the Lord
over the houses of the Israelites marked by the blood of the lamb. To remember
this Passover, God ordered the Israelites to keep the Feast of the Passover.
The lamb sacrificed was eaten with unleavened bread and bitter herbs and the
father of the family would explain to the children, year after year, what the
meal and the feast meant. Our Eucharistic celebration is a commemoration of the
same Paschal meal, reminding us that we are called to pass from the land of
slavery to sin to the land of freedom; we are called to pass over from wherever
we are to where the Lord wants us to be. It calls to mind the fact that God has
passed over our sins thanks to the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ through
whose death we are given life.
Depiction of the
Eucharist
An old Church in
Cologne had a telling illustration of the Bread of life on the door of the
church. The door had four panels, each portraying a biblical scene relating to
the Eucharist. The first panel had six stone jars, depicting the miracle of
Cana; the second showed five loaves and two fishes, referring to the feeding of
the five thousand; the third panel portrayed Jesus and the twelve seated at the
table in the Upper Room; and the last panel had three figures -Jesus breaking
bread with two of his disciples in the Inn at Emmaus. The common interpretation
of the first miracle depicted is that the Lord came to the rescue of the young
couple who were embarrassed having run out of wine. The artist's message was
that just as Jesus had turned the water into wine so one day he would change
wine into his blood, thus prefiguring the Eucharist. The second panel shows the
feeding of the five thousand. In Capernaum he gave ordinary bread; at the Last
Supper he would give the bread of Life. The third panel reveals the institution
of the Eucharist. In the Upper Room Jesus does more than change water into
wine, he changes wine into his blood. He does more than multiply loaves; he
changes bread into his body. In the last panel we see in the meal at Emmaus the
first post-resurrection Eucharist. First in the scriptures and then in the
breaking of bread they learn to recognize the Lord in their midst and their
hearts are warmed at his presence. The four panels thus progressively reveal
the true meaning of the Eucharist.
Mark Link
John, who wrote his
gospel more than fifty years after the last supper had taken place, does not
narrate the Institution of the Holy Eucharist, since Matthew, Mark and Luke had
already done it. But John wanted to remind the Christians of what Jesus had
done on the night of the Last Supper. The central point of his teaching that
night was his new commandment. To drive home this message he tells us how Jesus
washed the feet of his disciples during the Last Supper. No other Gospel
narrates this event. John was well aware that the Eucharist was the greatest
gift of the Lord to the Church. Yet he preferred to describe a ritual that
Jesus performed that night, which would highlight the true meaning of "Do
this in memory of me!" The celebration of the Eucharist becomes relevant and
meaningful only when we have washed one another's feet. After years of
participating in the Eucharist, have we understood what the Lord is asking of
us? Unfortunately, we have made the Eucharist a ritual to be observed but with
no bearing on our daily lives. We can participate in the Eucharist daily and
yet not let it affect our lives in any way. Similarly we can on this day
participate in the ritual of the washing of the feet and yet not see the
implications of this new commandment. To celebrate the Eucharist we have to
live it. To live as a follower of Jesus Christ we have to wash one another's
feet, we have to be servants; we have to live lives of humble service.
Body of Christ!
Once I was giving out
Holy Communion in a crowded church. Just as I was about to place the host on a
lady's tongue, another person jostled her by wedging into a narrow space
besides her. She immediately closed her mouth before receiving, turned to the
intruder and called her a bitch, then turned back to me, opened her mouth and
said "Amen" to the body of Christ! So often we receive the body of
Christ in the Eucharist and fail to recognize it in the pew. So often the
tongue that receives the Lord in Holy Communion is only too ready to lacerate
the body of Christ over a cup of coffee after Mass.
James Feeban
Film: 'Entertaining
Angels': The Dorothy Day Story
Twenty-year-old
Dorothy Day was a reporter and a part of an elite socialist group in New York.
Dorothy encounters a homeless man and a friendly nun and follows them to a Church
that has opened a soup kitchen for the poor. She often goes to the kitchen to
help. She begins to read Catholic books and gets converted. She is urged to
start feeding the poor and caring for the sick. During the 1930's Dorothy
becomes even more socially active. She opens hospitality houses and tries to
improve the lives of the poor. -Dorothy led a very unconventional life by
Catholic standards. Her pre-conversion past and abortion, her decision not to
marry and remain a single parent are interesting because she used these unusual
circumstances to follow Christ by helping the poor and homeless. She is a
twentieth century model of lay holiness. Dorothy Day, like the apostles, was
someone who did not have faith at first. She gradually accepted the gift of faith
and grew in it by serving others. She spent most of her adult life living
Jesus' commandment of love. She personally cared for the indigent and homeless
people in many ways, from preparing and serving meals to washing their feet.
This was the life of Dorothy Day. An exasperated volunteer agreed to go on
working when she wanted to quit because Dorothy had said, "You never know,
you might be entertaining angels." - On this Holy Thursday we are reminded
to blend our beliefs and actions into one life lived for God.
Peter Malone in 'Lights Camera.Faith!'
The Ultimate
Acceptance
An orthodox Jewish
father came to my university office to discuss a serious problem. His son was
becoming romantically involved with a young Catholic woman. The old patriarch
was well-disposed to Christianity, very tolerant of its beliefs and practices.
But it was 'crossing the line' to think of his son marrying a gentile outside
the synagogue and perhaps even becoming a Catholic. He was disappointed in the
young woman because of the present turn of events. He had readily accepted her
as his son's friend but felt that she should have been more sensitive to the
limits of the relationship, to its future implications, especially since he and
his wife had so graciously received her into their home and family circle. As
he concluded, he made a statement that wonderfully summarized a whole set of
Old Testament feelings. He leaned over the desk and said dramatically:
"And we even invited her to our table." What more could he have done?
That said it all. His hospitality was complete. In the best of his Jewish
tradition, he had included her as fully as he could. -On Holy Thursday, Jesus
invites us all to His table. To invite us to his banquet table was the ultimate
way that the Jewish carpenter could tell us that he accepted us, no matter how
weak and sinful we may be. Jesus invited everyone to dinner to share in all of
those rich human experiences which, at that moment, became divine experiences.
Eugene Lauer in 'Sunday Morning Insights'
Remembering
A man made a dramatic
turnaround in his life. When asked how he did it, he pulled out a snapshot from
his wallet. It was a picture of a caseworker who had helped him years ago.
"Whenever I am tempted to fall back into my old ways," the man said,
"I remember what this caseworker did for me, and I draw strength from his
memory." That story illustrates an important biblical truth. For ancient
Jews remembering a religious event meant far more than calling to mind
something that had happened centuries before. On the contrary, remembering the
event meant bringing it into the present and reliving it by faith. Thus when
the Jews remembered the Passover each year, they did far more than recall to
mind the event that freed their ancestors from Egypt. Rather, by remembering,
they brought that event into the present and relived it again. In this way they
received the same blessing from it that their ancestors did.
Mark Link in 'Journey'
Eucharistic Meal
In most cultures a
meal is a special ceremony, time and occasion. We divide our day by mealtimes.
A meal implies being together as a family -perhaps the only time of the day. It
implies being one. Divorce is called "separation of bed and board."
Tearing up a table cloth is a sign of disunity in a family. Soldiers unstrap
their bayonet belt before entering a mess hall -no fighting in a dining room.
At the dining table enemies, especially chiefs of clans, seal their agreements
by eating one another's food. All eating is meant to be sharing. You cannot
have a feast without a meal. Every big occasion has one farewell as well as
welcome. When a businessman wants to discuss something important, or a friend
wants to tell you something unpleasant, or a man has a special message for a
woman -they get together over a meal. All this is implied in the Eucharist.
Fred Michalic in '1000 stories you can use'
The Tragedy and
Triumph
An old African folk
tale speaks of a land which was suffering from a famine. Men and beasts starved
to death. Everyone was worried just about staying alive. In this country lived
a pelican which did not worry about keeping herself alive as much as preserving
the life of her young ones. Day after day she scrounged for food. Finally there
was no food she could find, the pelican could find no other way out, so in her
great need she made a hole in her own breast with her beak and gave her young
ones her own blood to drink. When the famine was over her young ones were
strong and able to fly away and look after themselves. She had given them her
lifeblood to make them live.
Willi Hoffsuemmer in '1000 stories you can use'
Live for others
In the Russian
Orthodox Church, there were people called Poustinikki who devoted themselves to
lives of prayer. They withdrew to the desert (poustinia) and lived in solitude,
but not isolation. The Russian word for solitude means "being with everybody."
By custom, the latch was always off the door as a sign of availability. The
poustinikki's priority was always a neighbour's need. We too are to live with
the latch off the door to our hearts for the service of others.
John Pichappilly in 'The Table of the Word'
To live with others, may we live for others!
From the Connections:THE WORD:
The centerpiece of John’s Gospel account of the Last Supper is the mandatum – from the Latin word for “commandment,” from which comes the traditional title for this evening, Maundy Thursday. At the Passover seder, the night before he died, Jesus established a new Passover to celebrate God's covenant with the new Israel. The special character of this second covenant is the mandatum of the washing of the feet – to love one another as we have been loved by Christ.
(John makes no mention of the establishment of the Eucharist in his account of the Last Supper. Chapters 14, 15 and 16 recount Jesus’ last instructions to his disciples, followed by his “high priestly prayer” in chapter 17. The Johannine theology of the Eucharist is detailed in the “bread of life” discourse following the multiplication of the loaves and fish at Passover, in chapter 6 of his Gospel.)
Tonight’s first reading recounts the origin and ritual of the feast of Passover, the Jewish celebration of God's breaking the chains of the Israelites’ slavery in Egypt and leading them to their own land, establishing a covenant with them and making of them his own beloved people.
The deep divisions in the Corinthian community have led to abuses and misunderstandings concerning the “breaking of the bread.” In addressing these problems and articulating the proper spirit in which to approach the Lord’s Supper, Paul provides us with the earliest written account of the institution of the Eucharist, the Passover of the new covenant (this evening's second reading). If we fail to embrace the spirit of love and servanthood in which the gift of the Eucharist is given to us, then “Eucharist” becomes a judgment against us.
HOMILY POINTS:
The Eucharist, instituted this night, comes at a price all must be willing to pay: We must become what we have received – we must become, for others, Christ the healer, Christ the compassionate and selfless brother, Christ the humble “washer of feet.”Jesus, who revealed the wonders of God in stories about mustard seeds, fishing nets and ungrateful children, on this last night of his life – as we know life – leaves his small band of disciples his most beautiful parable: As I have washed your feet like a slave, so you must wash the feet of each other and serve one another. As I have loved you without limit or condition, so you must love one another without limit or condition. As I am about to suffer and die for you, so you must suffer and, if necessary, die for one another. Tonight’s parable is so simple, but its lesson is so central to what being a real disciple of Christ is all about. When inspired by the love of Christ, the smallest act of service done for another takes on extraordinary dimensions. *****
From Fr. Jude Botelho:
The first reading reminds us that the Passover meal was a thanksgiving sacrifice, during which the Israelites recalled how the Lord had led them from the slavery of Egypt to the Promised Land. The Israelites were never to forget what God had done for them. To symbolize their readiness to journey to wherever the Lord was leading them, they had to eat the meal standing and in a hurry, they were a people on the move, ready to be led by their Saviour. We too recall our personal salvation history and so the Mass becomes a ‘looking back’ with gratitude and a ‘looking forward’ in hope. The Eucharist also reminds us that just as the angel of the Lord passed over the houses of the Israelites marked by the blood of the lamb, so the Lord passes over us, marked by the blood of Christ.
Do this in memory of me…..
Jesus asked his disciples to remember him and to celebrate the Eucharist in His memory. What are we celebrating each time we celebrate the Passover? Are we on purpose? Or have we forgotten where it all started? –It reminds me of the old hunting story of the deer hound which set off one morning chasing a magnificent buck. A few minutes into the chase a fox crossed that path and the hound veered off to chase the fox. A little later a rabbit crossed that path and the hound was soon baying after the rabbit. Then a squirrel crossed the path and the dog was pounding after him. Finally a field mouse crossed the path and the hound chased it into its burrow. The deer hound had begun chasing a great buck but would end up watching a mouse hole!
Walter Bausch in ’Telling compelling Stories’
The Gospel reminds us that just before he went to his passion, Jesus wished to celebrate his passing over with a farewell meal. His disciples sense that something is going to happen, there is tension in the air and to add to it all Jesus tells them that one with whom he is going to celebrate this meal is going to betray him. In spite of the rejection and the sense of failure, Jesus made the mighty decision to stay faithful to his mission from the Father. But Jesus does not let the anxiety of his passion or the present betrayal prevent him from showing the depth of his love. Having loved his own, he was ready to love them no matter what their response, no matter what the cost. When we reflect on the washing of the feet we regard it as a parable in action, the action of Jesus spoke for itself. As if to drive home the point still further, after Jesus had finished washing the feet of his disciples he turned to them and said, “If I have washed your feet then you too must wash one another’s feet. What I just did was to give you an example: as I have done so must you do.” When Jesus came to Peter, he refused to let Jesus wash his feet. Jesus tells Peter that if he does not wash Peter’s feet he can have no part in this meal. What Jesus is saying is that His action is more than an act of humble service. It points to the very nature of Jesus’ redeeming life and work: It is not we who redeem ourselves by anything we do; it is even more allowing ourselves to be washed; it is allowing Jesus to act in us and for us; it is letting Him be God and the only Saviour of our life.
Eating the Paschal Meal
Some theologians and preachers say that basically Jesus was killed because of the way he ate, whom he ate with, and what he encouraged them to do with one another as a sign of their allegiance to him and to the Kingdom of his Father. There is an old story told among Zen teachers. Once upon a time there was a family, the relatives of a poor samurai, who was dying of hunger. They approached Eisai’s temple, and the good monk there took the golden halo off the image of Buddha and gave it to them, telling them to go and sell it and buy food for themselves and find shelter. When others heard about it there were cries of “Sacrilege!” What reckless and dangerous behavior! What kind of precedent was set for the temples! But the monk calmly reminded them of the story of the Chinese master Tanka, who burned a wooden image to warm himself. And he preached to them: Buddha’s mind is full of love and mercy. If the Buddha had heard of the plight of these people, why, he would have cut off a limb if that would have helped them in their pain! What’s a halo or anything else that’s available in the face of human beings’ suffering and need? – We are invited to eat and drink at the table of the Lord, to have our feet washed, to enter the wounds and the heart of Jesus, to be his beloved friends. And we are told to do as Jesus did.
Megan McKenna in ‘Lent –The Sunday Readings’
Do this in memory of me
The author Leslie Weatherhead, tells of a frail ten-year old boy whose mother had died and he was admitted to a Children’s home run by some Sisters. The first thing they did was to give him a warm shower and some clean clothes. He loved the new outfit but put on his old tattered cap. He clutched it tightly when the Sisters tried to remove it. After coaxing, he exchanged it for a new one. But before accepting the new one, he ripped the lining of the old and stuffed it in his pocket. “Why did you do that?” Sister asked. “Because,” he replied, that’s part of my mother’s dress, I must keep it to remember her.
Anonymous
I don’t get anything out of it
Most people would be quite taken aback if a friend responded to a dinner invitation from them in this way. On Holy Thursday, Jesus gave us a permanent invitation to dinner with him. He promised that, no matter what the circumstances, he would always be there. He suggested that it would be a great way to become more intimately related to our believing sisters and brothers. He hoped that his followers would, by coming together for a meal, be constantly reminded of his great act of love in redeeming them, his death and resurrection. How many millions of Christians have responded by saying, “I’m not coming. I don’t get anything out of it.” We don’t get something out of an event unless we put something into it. We come to the Supper bringing our faith-supported convictions about God’s presence at the meal. We come because we care about our brothers and sisters, hoping that our own presence may be in some way helpful to their faith and prayerfulness. We come to be supportive of them in their present needs and struggles. We come because we know we will never get a better invitation to dinner.”
Eugene Lauer in ‘Sunday Morning Insights’
True worship of the heart
There is a story about some monks in France who were popular for their loving sympathy and kind deeds, but not one of them could sing. Try as they would, the music of their services was a failure, and it became a great grief to them. One day a travelling monk, a great singer, asked for hospitality. Great was their joy, for now they could have him sing for their services, and they hoped to keep him with them always. But that night an angel came to the abbot in a dream. “Why was there no music in your chapel tonight? We always listen for beautiful music that rises in your services.” “You must be mistaken!” cried the abbot. “Usually we have no music worth hearing, but tonight, we had a trained singer with a wonderful voice, and he sang the service for us. For the first time in all these years our music was beautiful.” The angel smiled. “And yet up in heaven we heard nothing,” he said softly.
Quoted from ‘Sunday Companion’ in ‘Quotes and Anecdotes’
The Peter Principle
Some years ago, a popular book called The Peter Principle was based on the premise that too often a person climbing the managerial ladder was promoted one step above his capacity to manage. A Christian variation on this theme could be called ‘The Simon Peter Principle,’ a rule which holds that St. Peter the Apostle was always over his head when assaying the humanity of Jesus. From the day when Jesus called Peter ‘Satan’ for supposing that he could escape human suffering to the night before he died, Peter clung to the belief that Jesus was somehow too good or too holy or too powerful to have to submit to the evil designs of his persecutors. To Peter’s mind, it was impossible that the Master could be so humbled. The ‘Simon Peter Principle’ lives on today in all of us who think that Jesus merely donned the cloak of humanity and went through the motions of human trial and suffering to set an example for the rest of us who are mired in the flesh. We pin our hopes in a God who could throw off his mantle of flesh at any moment and strike dead his tormentors. When alone in intimacy with the Saviour, we say with Peter, “You shall never wash my feet,” meaning, “Come on, I know who you really are. You can drop your pose with me.” In today’s Gospel, Jesus makes our acceptance of his total and authentic humanity a requirement for sharing his heritage. To be a Christian means much more than believing in God’s son come to earth. It means accepting the fact that God could be, and chose to be, and was humiliated…. Not just humble, but humiliated. We have seen Kings and Presidents and Popes behave humbly. We know that they can drop the pose any time. But Jesus could not drop the pose. It was no pose. Once he made the choice to drain the cup of suffering, there was no turning back. Jesus bent to the basin because a fully human being could find no other way of expressing sublime love.
Roger Swenson in ‘The Serious Season’
The man with no shoes
In the winter of 1990, I was asked to appear on a television talk show in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. At the end of our first day of taping I was on my way back to my plush hotel, when I saw something I’d never seen before. Lying on the sidewalk against a building in four inches of snow was a man sleeping with only a cardboard blanket to keep him from being completely exposed to the freezing cold. What really broke my heart was when I realized that he wore no shoes or socks. I thought to stop and help him but was not quite sure what to do. As the traffic light turned green, it seemed life was demanding that I move along. So I did and I promptly forgot about the man on the street. Several days later, prior to the morning taping, I was having coffee and Danish in the green room at the station. All of the “Important” people had left the room, it was just me and the janitor remaining. I had seen him quietly go about his business every day while I was there, and he never said a word except “Good morning” or “Can I get anything for you, sir?” He always had a smile to give to everyone. When I asked him how he was feeling today, he told me that he’d been having to ride his bike to work in the snow and that he’d been feeling rather sorry for himself…that is, until he saw a man sleeping down on the corner of Yonge Street and Bloor with just a piece of cardboard for covering from the cold and no shoes. I almost choked on my Danish as I heard him go on to relate how he was so moved with compassion for the man that he went around the corner to a store and bought the man a pair of socks and shoes. As I heard his story, I saw in my mind a poster that used to be in an old friend’s bedroom handing someone a flower and the caption read: “The smallest deed always exceeds the grandest of intentions.”
Fr. Sudac in ‘Hear His Voice’