TODAYS REFLECTION HOLY THURSDAY MAR 24

TODAYS REFLECTION HOLY THURSDAY MAR 24  ( Exd 12:1-8, 11-14, 1Cor 11: 23-36, Jn 13: 1-15 )

Beloved friends, Today we begin the Triduum, seventy hours of prayer, followed by the Easter season, fifty days of celebrating the risen Christ, it is one of the most important times in our lives. In the readings for tonight’s Mass of the Lord’s Supper, we see many examples of how to live our lives, including Jesus doing something extraordinary to set an example for all of us.

As his hour of humiliation draws near he reveals to his disciples the supreme humility which shaped the love he had for them. He stoops to perform a menial task reserved for servants - the washing of smelly, dirty feet. In stooping to serve his disciples Jesus knew he would be betrayed by one of them and that the rest would abandon him through disloyalty.

In the first reading from Exodus, the Lord tells Moses and Aaron how to celebrate the Passover, giving them instructions about preparing the lamb for dinner and in the gospel Jesus offered a new set of instructions to His disciples as they gathered for their Passover dinner, He got up from the table, took off his cloak and knelt on the floor to wash the feet of each of them, giving an example for us on how we are to live our lives, as servants.  “As I have done for you, you should also do.”

Jesus loved his disciples to the very end, even when they failed him and forsook him. The Lord loves each of us unconditionally. His love has power to set us free to serve others with Christ-like compassion and humility. Todays mass also echoes the institution of THE HOLY EUCHARIST AND THE INSTITUTION OF THE HOLY PRIESTHOOD.

The Lord Jesus on the night in which He was betrayed took bread, and after He had given thanks, broke it and said, 'This is My body, Which is for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.' 1 Cor 11:23-24. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ Himself. Today as we  commemorate the institution of the Priesthood. It is a good moment to pray for the Pope, for bishops, and for priests, and to pray for many vocations throughout the world too. Wishing you a spirit filled ceebrations. United in prayers.