Holy Thursday Homily

There are seven sacraments and each of them find their origin in Christ Jesus. Tonight we place our focus upon Christ’s gift to the Church which is the Most Holy Eucharist. You will notice that today’s Mass prayers state that tonight He took into His holy and venerable Hands bread and wine saying “this is my Body” and “this is my Blood do this in remembrance of me.” This statement draws our minds towards what takes place on Holy Thursday as we come to commemorate the Lord’s supper.

When a Jew celebrates the Passover meal it is understood that they are not simply recreating a moment of time from the past. Rather, they are entering into that very moment where time stands still. Therefore, they do this in remembrance of what took place. So too we do this in remembrance of what the Lord did when He gathered with His apostles on this solemn night. What we do at each Mass is to be taken to the point in time of His Passion where time continues to stand still.

Following this Mass there will be the opportunity to spend time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. This heralds back to those words spoken in the garden, “Could you not stay watch with me for one hour?” The Lord continues to invite us into relationship with Him. Let us take up this invitation and develop such a relationship where we allow Him to remain at the center of our life. With the Lord at life’s center we are called to be sent forth to share what we have received with others. Let us enkindle such a relationship with Him always remembering the important of what takes place here at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

Holy Thursday Homily

In all things Christ comes to fulfill.

Therefore this night the apostles gather with Him in prayer. In doing so they are carrying out the Jewish ritual of the Passover. It is Christ who becomes that sacrificial lamb upon the cross as He lays down His life for us out of love. In the course of this ritual He gives Himself to His apostles in the Eucharist.

In His words: “This is My Body.” “This is My Blood.” “Do this in remembrance of Me.”

The good and faithful Jew would realize that the Passover meal was to enter into that very day of the Passover itself. There is nothing that is symbolic in what is taking place. Likewise, it is at Calvary that time continues to stands still and we continue to enter into Christ’s saving action. For this reason Fulton Sheen once stated, “The Mass is the greatest love story every told.

This night we call to mind this reality of God’s love for us as we continue to rejoice in the gift of the Eucharist. May Eucharistic devotion be stirred up within the depths of our heart that we may do all things for the greater glory of God. To look upon the Eucharistic is to look upon Christ and to receive the Eucharist is to receive Christ. 

Let us always be changed by this life giving encounter with Him and be found willing to live our life for Him always.

Holy Thursday Homily

Today we celebrate Holy Thursday where we commemorate Christ’s gift to the Church which is the Most Holy Eucharist. We must remember that this sacrificial meal was not just a meal between friends, but instead finds its context in the Passover meal. It was at Passover where the angel of death passed over the homes of the Israelites who had marked their doors with the blood of the sacrificial lamb. To commemorate this day they gather to have the Passover meal.

Therefore, what Christ does is most profound because it brought something which was observed to its fulfillment. For each of us the Eucharist is most important, not only this day, but each and every time that the Holy Mass is offered. It is at the Mass that time stands still as we join with our Blessed Lord at His Sacrifice at Calvary.

We have many priorities in this life, but nothing can be more important then God and thus Christ who is present with us Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity in the Most Holy Eucharist. So often we forget why this gift is so important as we rush out the door and move onto the issues of this world separated from Christ. Wherever we go we must bring the Eucharist with us in the ways in which we act and order our life.

As was seen in today’s Gospel there is a call to service from this sacrament as is seen in the washing of the disciple’s feet. Likewise, each of us is to act accordingly when we behold this most wondrous of Gifts. We cannot rush out the door and forget what we behold, but instead must allow what we behold to bring about change within us.

St. Cyril of Alexandria stated: “The Eucharist heals the maladies of the soul. It strengthens it against temptation.” And the more often you receive Communion lovingly and reverently, the more good Jesus can do in your soul!”