The liturgical season of Lent comes to an end this Thursday with the the beginning of a new liturgical season, the Holy Triduum. This liturgical season, though short-comprising of three days (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday)- are some of the holiest days of the year. This season calls for red vestments.
On Holy Thursday, our Lord, Jesus, instituted both the Sacraments of the Eucharist and Holy Orders. He celebrated the first Mass with his disciples.
A tradition on Holy Thursday is hosting a Seder meal to remember the Passover before the Cross. Because we do not want to send you out to shop and the limited supply in stores, a better and more feasible option during Covid-19 might be preparing a nice dinner with whatever is in the pantry and offering a Holy Thursday Table Blessing.
One of the best opportunities during this time would be to reflect on readings for the Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper. Within the first reading, God gives to Moses the order for the Passover, which is to be celebrated year after year, in remembrance of their freedom from captivity. Prior to the exodus, there were nine plagues in Egypt; the tenth and final plague was the death of each firstborn son. Moses relayed to the Israelites the prescription for the spirit of death to “Pass-over” each house, which was to use the hyssop branch to spread the blood of the lamb on the sides of the door and over the doorpost. They were ordered to stay in the house until morning. (The Prince of Egypt would be a great family movie for the evening!)
The first Passover, was a meal celebrated in haste within each person’s own home. During this time with the Covid-19 situation, we have lost the sense of normalcy, much like the Israelites on the night of the first Passover. However we are given the opportunity to remember the gift of family. When we reflect on the Gospel passage, we recall the New Passover that Christ gives us within the Mass. The disciples present celebrated this Passover with Jesus, but this was certainly an atypical evening, which would have caught the disciples off guard. This is definitely a time of odd circumstances, where we are not able to spend the Holy Triduum together in the parish. However, the Lord is offering us a time to be faithful, despite the circumstances, with the same call to follow him. This night, Christ gave us the Sacrament of Sacraments, the Eucharist. He continues to give himself to us again and again.
Reflection on the Feet Washing:
As mentioned in the Elementary School Activities, the feet washing within the home, could be a great way to express the sacrificial love modeled by Christ.
Peter has to learn the lesson that God's idea of love, majesty, and greatness is different from ours. Peter initially recoils at the thought of Jesus washing the feet of the disciples. How could a King do such a thing? But Jesus teaches mankind a new type of radical love. Love that includes the complete emptying of oneself.
At the end of the washing of the feet, Jesus then tell the disciples that they too are called to love like this.
I can imagine, before the washing of the feet, there was a sense of pride inherent in the disciples. None of them would have ever considered doing something that was meant for only servants to do. Feet today are naturally dirty and smelly... and that is in the modern age where soap and showers exist. Imagine what washing feet back then must have been like. So none have them would have ever thought to clean someone else's feet. But then the man whom they love and follow and know to be the Incarnation of God stoops to wash their feet. It must have been shocking. And when Jesus finally tells them they they too must love like this, they were probably reluctant to agree but then thought, "well now I have no excuse". "If Jesus was willing to wash my feet, who do I think I am that I don't have to wash the feet of my fellow man?"
Jesus' message was not just meant for the 12 disciples, but for all us. He led by example and showed us what true love looks like. True love means getting rid of our sense of pride. And the opposite of pride, is humility. We are called to humbly give of ourselves. Because Jesus gave literally everything of himself. And who are we to think that we don't have to humble ourselves if God himself humbled himself?
