Holy Thursday
TODAY is Holy Thursday. With the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper this evening, the Christian world enters into the celebration of the Paschal Mysteries of the Lord Jesus Christ. In some countries, today is referred to as “Maundy Thursday.” The word “Maundy” comes from the Latin word mandatum which means commandment. It is the first word of the Gospel acclamation today: “Mandátum novum do vobis dicit Dóminus, ut diligátis ínvicem, sicut diléxi vos.” – “I give you a new commandment: Love one another as I have loved you.” ( John 13: 34) These words were spoken by our Lord to His apostles at that Last Supper in the Upper Room, after washing of the feet of His disciples.
In today’s liturgy, the gospel reading is taken from John’s gospel. John, unlike in the other gospels, does not elaborate on what happened during the meal. Instead, he calls our attention to Jesus’ washing of the feet of his apostles. After the gospel, this ritual is performed to remind us that what Christ did to His disciples, we must do to one another. Jesus said: “If I therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.” Washing of the feet is a symbol of humble service. To be great in the kingdom, one must be willing to serve. To be a leader, in the notion of Jesus, is to be a servant.
Today we also remember in a special way our priests. Our priests are the servant-leaders in our communities of faith. Like Jesus, they bring us closer to God and God closer to us through their ministry. They are ambassadors of Christ in today’s world. Pope Francis’ reminders to our priests during his Mass at the Manila Cathedral are beautiful words to reflect on today as we remember them in our prayers. Pope Francis said: “As ambassadors for Christ, we, bishops, priests, and religious, ought to be the first to welcome his reconciling grace into our hearts. Saint Paul makes clear what this means. It means rejecting worldly perspectives and seeing all things anew in the light of Christ. It means being the first to examine our consciences, to acknowledge our failings and sins, and to embrace the path of constant conversion. How can we proclaim the newness and liberating power of the Cross to others, if we ourselves refuse to allow the word of God to shake our complacency, our fear of change, our petty compromises with the ways of this world, our “spiritual worldliness” (cf. Evangelii Gaudium, 93)?
On this Holy Thursday, let us pray for us priests that they may truly reflect the image of Christ who offered his life for his flock. Let us also pray for ourselves, for we are also priests by virtue of our baptism, that we may also be shining examples of a fervert faith in God. May we be able to lead others through our humble service to God who is the author of all life.