MAUNDY THURSDAY

On the mass of the Lord’s Supper, we remember three events that are of great importance in our life as Christians, namely, the institution of the holy Eucharist, the Holy Priesthood, and the new commandment of love.

In this solemn commemoration of the Lord’s Supper, we begin our celebration of the Paschal Triduum. We enter into the Paschal Mystery. Seeing his forthcoming departure from this world, and return to the Father, Jesus Christ instituted the Holy Eucharist as the memorial of his love for us. It is a farewell gift from him who is about to depart. But it is not just an ordinary memento; it is a gift of his real presence. Paradoxically, he left us physically when he ascended to heaven, but through the Eucharist, he is made present again in our midst. It is not just a memorial of his love, but the presence of Love itself. He is so in love that he is giving his own body and blood as our sustenance. He is giving himself up for us, body and blood, so that we may gain new life.

The sacrament of Holy Orders was also instituted during the Lord’s Supper. Through it, the mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time (CCC 1536). Though all baptized members of the Church participate in the one priesthood of Christ through their common priesthood, the ordained ministers participate in a special way with Christ’s ministerial priesthood, which is at the service of the common priesthood. It is directed at the unfolding of the baptismal grace of all Christians, a means by which Christ unceasingly builds up and leads his Church (CCC 1547). Through the ordained ministers, Christ is made present again through the sacraments they celebrate. The sacrament of Holy Orders was instituted through the washing of the feet of the apostles by Jesus Christ. On that last night, he told them: If I washed your feet, I who am your Teacher and Lord, then you must wash each other’s feet (Jn 13:14). Thus, the dignity of the ordained ministers and community lies primarily in the works, ministries and services they render to the people of God. They must be servants of all without neglecting their role as leaders. Jesus Christ, through the institution of the Holy Orders, teaches to us what it means to be a genuine Servant-Leader. 

  

Realizing his impending passion and death, Christ left a new commandment to his apostles, and consequently to us. He gave us a Mandatum Novum (from which Maundy Thursday got it name), a new commandment. This is the commandment of love: A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another (Jn 13:34-35). This new commandment demands that we have the love of Jesus as the sole standard of our love: to love like Jesus who washed the feet of his apostles, who fed the hungry, healed the sick, who gave up his life for us all.

Today, Maundy Thursday, Jesus showed to us his great love. He let us feel the immensity and extent of his love for us, even to the point of offering his of body and blood. In turn, may we heed his commandment of love, for only by loving like Jesus will we be truly his disciples.