Exodus 12.1-8,11-14 | 1 Corinthians 11.23-26 | John 13.1-15

In this Holy Week, today we arrive at the Easter Triduum, with Holy Thursday, celebrating the Institution of the Eucharist, at the Last Supper, and remembering the Washing of the Feet, love made humble service.

A short while ago, the Institution of the Ministerial Priesthood was celebrated, with Priest's Day, and the consecration of the Holy Oils for the anointing of catechumens, for the anointing of those being confirmed and ordained ministers (deacons, priests and bishops), and for the anointing of the sick.

Today the Evangelist John speaks to us about the Washing of the Feet during the Supper. Jesus - the Lord and Master - washed the feet of His disciples, giving them the example so that they would do the same thing that He did. The evangelist emphasizes that Jesus was demonstrating all His love for His people in the world. Simon Peter did not want Jesus to wash his feet, but he allowed it when Jesus told him that he would have no part with Jesus if he did not allow it. 

In that context, it was the slaves who washed the feet of their owners. By washing the feet of His disciples, Jesus assumed the condition of a humble servant while demonstrating His love for them. 

For Simon Peter and for most Jews, the Messiah was an authority who should be served. It was not easy to change this mentality so deeply rooted in Jewish culture. Jesus made Himself a humble servant and ordered His disciples to do the same thing. 

Let us learn to identify in our society the people who are truly in need and are despised and humiliated and, like Jesus, may we serve them humbly out of love, in an update of the washing of the feet of that Last Supper. 

Today the book of Exodus tells us about the annual feast of the Hebrews' Passover, on the first full moon of spring. In order to inflict punishments on all the gods of Egypt, the Lord would pass through the land of Egypt and strike down all the firstborn of men and animals in the land of Egypt.

Each Hebrew family was to sacrifice a lamb without blemish and, with its blood, anoint the doorposts and the crossbar of their homes. In this way, these families would be preserved from the exterminating plague. They were to eat the roasted lamb, with unleavened bread (without yeast) and bitter herbs.

At that last supper of Jesus with His disciples, they celebrated the Passover of the Hebrews. For us Christians, Jesus is the lamb without blemish, and we are preserved from eternal death by drinking His Blood (the chalice of blessed wine) and eating His flesh (the unleavened bread broken). It is the Eucharist, which Jesus instituted on the night before His crucifixion, as a sacramental sign of His death and resurrection, as a memorable feast, as a perpetual institution, for all generations.

Let us celebrate the Most Holy Eucharist with reverent devotion on Sundays and feast days, in honor of the death and resurrection of Jesus. He is our food for eternal salvation.

Today, the apostle Paul tells us in his first letter to the Corinthians about the Tradition he received about the Christian supper. This is the oldest biblical text on this very important subject, dating back to around the year 55 of the Christian era.

Jesus stated that the broken bread was His Body given by Him, and that the chalice of blessed wine was the new covenant in His Blood. And Jesus wanted the apostles to do (repeat) this in memory of Him. By eating that bread and drinking that chalice, Christians would be proclaiming the death of the Lord until He came.

Let us praise Jesus Christ, truly present in the Most Holy Eucharist, for having given priests the authority in the Church to consecrate the bread and wine by the Holy Spirit, which become His Body and His Blood, our food for eternal salvation. Let us value our priests and pray for them.

On this Holy Thursday, let us set aside some time for the Eucharistic Vigil, accompanying Christ who, after the betrayal of Judas Iscariot, will be arrested, scourged, condemned to death and crucified, all out of love for us.