Holy Thursday - Mass of the Lord's Supper

 One thing that strikes me about the Gospels is how different evangelists record different things in such surprising ways. St John places the cleansing of the temple early in the ministry of Jesus while the synoptic gospels place it towards the end. Likewise, John does not record an Institution Narrative nevertheless Chapter Six is clearly Eucharistic in its content. The synoptics place the Institution Narrative at the centre but do not record the washing of the feet as we hear of it this evening. What links these two events? I read the words of Jesus "For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you" (Jn 13: 15) and "Do this in remembrance of me." (Lk 22: 19) I think that both of these actions of the Lord instruct as to continue his life and work. We are not merely to remember his Passion, death and resurrection, in the sense of calling it to mind, but also to embed it in our way of life and to communicate its fruits to others. Through sacrifice and service therefore we can prolong the Incarnation and bring the presence of Christ to the world. Through cooperating with grace, we are doing what the disciples did when they were in the presence of the same Lord, and we are sustained by the same Holy Spirit. The question is though that can we be humble enough to let the Holy Spirit cleanse us and empower us which is exactly what Jesus did at the Last Supper.

The Mass of Chrism

 Jesus' words today: "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing" (Lk 4: 23) prompts me to think of the function of the homily within the Mass. The homily seeks to break open the Word whereas a sermon has a didactic function. In the former, the text is given be the Church while in the latter, the text is selected by the preacher. Within the Mass, it is Christ who speaks in the Gospel and it is his words that have power in the present. The priest or deacon has the proclamation of this Word as his priority duty (Lat. primum officium). This Word is constantly being fulfilled everywhere believers gather and proclaim the Word with faith and enact the sacrificial memorial (Gk. anamnesis) of the Passion death and resurrection of the Lord. Without this living Word the consecration of holy oils makes no sense. For it is the one who speaks who is also the one who consecrates and anoints. Since he has been anointed, we too, as a priestly people, are sent out to proclaim and to anoint. The Church finds its commission to embody the prolongation of the earthly ministry of the Lord who is the Anointed One (Messiah) prefigured throughout the Old Testament. His presence, by the power of the holy Spirit, is not a simple memory but a living reality that calls us on to share in his risen glory.

Palm Sunday

 Obedience and humility are not trendy attitudes in our society today. Slavery is rightfully regarded as abhorrent. To reflect on this helps us to receive the full impact of the second reading where St Paul writes: "... though he (Jesus) we in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." (Phil 2: 6-8) Those high up in the world of politics, entertainment and money, in our society, do not act this way. They have super yachts, grand mansions and bodyguards to keep them safe. The impact of Jesus' sacrifice is amplified as we consider that he did all of this while we were still sinners. How is it that many professed Catholics, aware of the blood that was shed for them, still struggle to take one hour out of their week to give thanks to the Lord for his mercy and love in the Mass? They want their children to go to Catholic schools but cannot shift themselves to pay reverence to the God who has shown them such love. This is a scandal. Today's readings should motivate us more than ever to express gratitude to God by ourselves being obedient to his command: "Do this in remembrance of me." (1 Cor 11: 24)