Holy Thursday: Evening Mass of
the Lord’s Supper
- The
Evening Mass of Holy Thursday recalls the Last Supper that
Jesus shared with his apostles the night before he died. At
the Last Supper, the evangelist John tells us, Jesus, who
had always loved those who were his in the world, now
showed how perfect his love was. Jesus then
instituted the Holy Eucharist, washed his disciples’ feet
and invited them to follow his example. The hour had come
for Jesus to pass from this world to the Father. The Last
Supper already anticipates and looks forward to Good Friday
and to the mystery of the Cross. It is the Cross which tells
us the meaning of what happened at the Last Supper and shows
us God’s perfect love.
- At the
Last Supper, Jesus gave us the mystery of the Holy
Eucharist. This took place within a ritual meal
commemorating the foundational event of the people of Israel
– their deliverance from slavery in Egypt. This ritual meal,
which called for the sacrifice of a lamb, was at the same
time a commemoration of an ancient liberation and the
prophetic announcement of a salvation still to come at the
hour of God’s choosing. That hour had now come. Jesus
himself, by dying on the Cross, will become the true lamb of
sacrifice in the new and definitive act of salvation. In
instituting the Eucharist at the Last Supper on the night
before he died, Jesus anticipates and makes present the
sacrifice of the cross and the victory of the resurrection.
“This is my body, which is for you….This cup is the new
covenant in my blood.” The Eucharist shows us how the
death of Jesus became the supreme act of love for our
salvation. He showed them how perfect his love was.
- At the
Last Supper, Jesus wrapped a towel round himself, and washed
the feet of his disciples in an act of humble service. We
remember his words at another time: “The Son of Man came not
to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for
many.” His act of service at the Last Supper on the night
before he died is a sign of his loving self-giving on the
Cross at Calvary and, in its own way, a sign of the
Eucharist, through which Jesus would continue to love his
disciples to the very end. He showed them how perfect his
love was.
- At the
Last Supper, Jesus invited his apostles to do as he had
done. “I have given you an example so that you may copy what
I have done to you.” He was speaking not just of the act of
washing feet, but a total act of service typified in his
sacrifice on the cross and which would be summed up in his
new commandment: Love one another as I have loved you. The
mystery of the Eucharist invites us into the very
self-giving of Jesus in love for all humanity. The bread and
wine are substantially changed into the body and blood of
Christ. In receiving the Holy Communion, the Lord draws us
into himself, so that we can be part of the love that alone
can transform the world and which comes from the sacrifice
of the cross. He showed them how perfect his love was.
- The Cross,
the Eucharist, and apostolic service. No wonder the Last
Supper is traditionally pinpointed as the institution of the
priesthood. Priests are called above all to offer the
Eucharist, the sacrament of Christ’s sacrifice of love on
the cross, in the person of Christ. Priests are called to
serve as Christ served. So, in the person of the Lord, and
as a sign of our pastoral love for you and of our commitment
to the Church, we now wash the feet of some of you who
represent you all. As we do so, we are deeply thankful to
the Lord for the gift of the priesthood. We are aware too of
our unworthiness and we ask you to pray for us, so that we
can faithfully follow Jesus, and show how perfect his
love was.
St. Andrew’s, Greenock
5th April 2007
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