Holy Thursday – Evening Mass of the lord’s Supper
(Exodus 12:1-8.11-14; I Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-15)
There is a profound relationship between the first reading
and the gospel that we must explore.
After doing this, we can better appreciate the gist of the second
reading.
The reading from the Book of Exodus describes how God has liberated
Israel from slavery in Egypt. It tells
of the annual meal that sons and daughters of Israel gather to this very day to
celebrate their liberation. Later in the
book Exodus shows the purpose of Israel’s liberation. The people are freed from bondage to Pharaoh so
that they may serve the one, true God. Out
of Egypt less than two months the Israelites arrive at Sinai where God presents
the Law to Moses. The Law will stipulate
exactly how they are to serve.
In the gospel Jesus washes the feet of his disciples. This is no ordinary purification rite. Jesus washes his disciples’ feet as an
example of the Law that he is imposing on the New Israel. Like with God’s instruction about how to eat
the Passover meal, the purpose of the foot washing is not clear at first. Jesus tells Peter that what he is doing will
be understood later. After he is risen
from the dead and the Holy Spirit is sent, his disciples will understand that washing
the feet of one another symbolizes mutual, loving service. The disciples are to humbly help one another
live like Christ in the world.
Doing that is no easy task.
We have plenty of concerns in our own homes to worry about what happens
in others. We need Christ’s own help to
love as he loved. He provides this help
in the Eucharist which St. Paul describes in the reading from his First Letter
to the Corinthians. Jesus himself
nourishes us with his body and blood so that we might lovingly assist our
neighbors.
