Thursday, April 05, 2007

Holy Thursday


Mass of the Lord’s Supper

Readings for the Mass of the Lord’s Supper[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible at Universalis

Commentary:

Reading 1 Ex 12:1-8, 11-14

This reading established the Feast of Passover for Jewish people. It is the feast the Lord was celebrating in the upper room. We are told of the tenth and final plague to strike Egypt as God struck down the first born and caused the Pharaoh to release the people from bondage. The image of the “Lamb” is reminiscent of the “Lamb of God”, who is also without blemish, whose blood consecrates those who believe in him.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 116:12-13, 15-16bc, 17-18
R. Our blessing-cup is a communion with the Blood of Christ.

This psalm of thanksgiving gives us the image of the “Cup of Blessing” used in the Passover celebration. It is this cup that the Lord first blessed and used as our communion cup.

Reading II 1 Cor 11:23-26

St. Paul gives us the earliest written account of the institution of the Lord’s Supper. This account is used by many protestant denominations to define their understanding of this event as symbolic rather than efficacious, that is they believe the Lord’s actions did not transubstantiate the bread and wine, but that the action was simply a “remembrance”. The Church looks the whole body of scripture, especially St. John’s Gospel and understands the Sacrament as the gift of Christ’s Body and Blood.

Gospel Jn 13:1-15

We find in St. John’s Gospel the Lord’s great act of humility as he washes the feet of his disciples, something that would not even have been done by a slave. In another sense it also caries with it the image of Baptism as well as the humiliating death the Lord was about to suffer.

Reflection:


There is an interesting paradox found in the event we celebrate today. The Mass in which these readings are foundational is the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, yet the Gospel focuses our attention on an act of humble service by the Savior of the World. As a community we come together for this first installment of the great Easter celebration.

As in the usual Mass, we will participate in the Liturgy of the Eucharist. But something special happens. It is traditional for twelve members of the community to come forward and the Priest, who stands in the place of Christ in sacramental celebrations, will follow Christ’s example literally by washing the feet of those selected.

It is a humbling position to be placed in, as one of those whose feet are to be washed. For many, it is too much to bear. Why would they feel such embarrassment, such unworthiness in the face of an act of love such as the Lord feels for all of us? These volunteers would almost certainly do as the Lord asked in the Gospel, “If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet.” Could it be the reason we, whose feet are to be washed, feel embarrassed is that we have never assumed that humble role for another and are therefore ill at ease? Is it because the Priest, someone we know and respect, has demonstrated that he believes the word of the one who called him?

What the Church reminds us by placing the re-enactment of Christ washing the feet of the disciples centrally in the Feast of the Lord’s Supper is that the one who laid down his life for us also laid down his glory for us. He did not just give up his life; he gave up his dignity, becoming the lowest of servants. The Son of God washes our feet daily; can we do less of one another?

Pax
[1] After 05/07
[2] The image shown is “Jesus washing the feet of the disciples” by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld, 1851-60

No comments: