The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary proclaimed this evening at the opening liturgy of the Paschal Triduum begin our annual “passover” with Jesus through service, and sacrifice to Resurrection.
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| Life and Service |
In the reading from Exodus the First Passover is instituted.
* [12:2] As if to affirm victory over Pharaoh and sovereignty over the Israelites, the Lord proclaims a new calendar for Israel. This month: Abib, the month of “ripe grain.” Cf. 13:4; 23:15; 34:18; Dt 16:1. It occurred near the vernal equinox, March–April. Later it was known by the Babylonian name of Nisan. Cf. Neh 2:1; Est 3:7.1
The Psalmist declares “I will lift up the cup of salvation.”
* [116:13] The cup of salvation: probably the libation of wine poured out in gratitude for rescue, cf. Ex 25:29; Nm 15:5, 7, 10.2
In the reading from the First Letter to the Corinthians, Paul describes the institution of the Lord’s Supper.
* [11:23–25] This is the earliest written account of the institution of the Lord’s Supper in the New Testament. The narrative emphasizes Jesus’ action of self-giving (expressed in the words over the bread and the cup) and his double command to repeat his own action.3
Jesus washes the disciples’ feet in the Gospel of John.
* [13:1–20] Washing of the disciples’ feet. This episode occurs in John at the place of the narration of the institution of the Eucharist in the synoptics. It may be a dramatization of Lk 22:27—“I am your servant.” It is presented as a “model” (“pattern”) of the crucifixion. It symbolizes cleansing from sin by sacrificial death.4
Sr. Candice Tucci, OSF, shares that this evening we begin the holy days of the Paschal Triduum, ending Lent and walking with Jesus to his death and resurrection. These days are about Jesus. But, we too, in the company of Jesus, have our part in the story. Why? Because, we live daily the Paschal Mystery of Life, Death and Resurrection. As we pray with today’s readings, we can use our imagination and enter the scenes presented to us through Scripture.
My imagination took me onto a boat. Its name, the Lumen Christi (The Light of Christ). While walking across the deck, I tripped over a bucket of water which spilled over my feet and I am flat on deck. Feeling like a klutz, a man came up to me, kindly gave me his hand and helped me up. I sat down on a small keg feeling foolish and sore. Without judgement or comment, he tended my bruised knees, then gently took a towel and began to dry my feet. It was at that moment I recognized him, Christ, the risen Jesus on his knees before me! He invited me to journey on the Lumen Christi into the future, doing what he has done, in memory of him. He invited me to share his story, and do what he has done with care in service to others and creation. Lumen Christi would be my way.5
Don Schwager quotes, “Christ chose to be a servant who offered himself for us,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"Even though the man Christ Jesus, in the form of God together with the Father with whom He is one God, accepts our sacrifice, nonetheless He has chosen in the form of a servant to be the sacrifice rather than accept it. Therefore, He is the priest Himself Who presents the offering, and He Himself is what is offered." (excerpt from City of God, 10,20)6
The Word Among Us Meditation on John 13:1-15 comments that we can understand Peter’s shock at the sight of Jesus stooping to wash his feet. Through his time with Jesus, he had come to understand that Jesus was the Messiah. Just to share a meal with him was an honor. So why in the world would this wise and holy man take on such a menial task? Jesus had to explain the importance of this gesture patiently before Peter would relent. And even then, Peter got it mixed up! Jesus had to wash only Peter’s feet because he already believed. His head and hands were already clean.
The significance of this act of humility is so profound that some have called it the gospel in miniature. Others have likened it to the Eucharist. God so loved the world that he sent his only Son to save us. And he still loves us so much that he bends down at every Mass to teach us, feed us, and refresh us. Both in the Incarnation and at Mass, he sends his only Son as a humble servant—all so that we can be filled with his life and transformed into his image!
On this Holy Thursday, focus on this truth: Jesus loves you so much that he is willing to wash your feet. He cares for you so deeply that he wants to tend to your every need, even to the point of feeding you with his Bread of Life and the cup of his own Blood. How loving and generous is our Savior!7
Friar Jude Winkler locates the agricultural feast origin of Passover. The Aramaic words in the Letter to the Corinthians have Jesus declare “this is all of Me.” Friar Jude reminds us of the horizontal dimension of the Eucharist, presented by John, that calls us to give and receive service.
(“The Lord’s Supper” begins at 40% of the track)
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, asks if we cannot control life and death, why do we spend so much time trying to control smaller outcomes? Call it destiny, providence, guidance, synchronicity, or coincidence, but people who are connected to the Source do not need to steer their own life and agenda. They know that it is being done for them in a much better way than they ever could. Those who hand themselves over are received, and the flow happens through them. Those who don’t relinquish control are still received, but they significantly slow down the natural flow of Spirit… Right now, as we face social restrictions, economic fragility, and the vulnerability of our own bodies, is there something deeper that you can surrender to, that can ground you in disruption?
Surrendering to the divine flow is not about giving in, capitulating, becoming a puppet, being naïve, irresponsible, or stopping all planning and thinking. Surrender is about a peaceful inner opening that keeps the conduit of living water flowing to love. But do know this: every time we surrender to love, we have also just chosen to die. Every time we let love orient us, we are letting go of ourselves as an autonomous unit and have given a bit of ourselves away to something or someone else, and it is not easily retrieved—unless we choose to stop loving—which many do. But even then, when that expanded Self wants to retreat back into itself, it realizes it is trapped in a much larger truth now. And Love wins again.
Jesus surely had a dozen good reasons why he should not have had to die so young, so unsuccessful at that point, and the Son of God besides! By becoming the Passover Lamb, plus the foot-washing servant, Jesus makes God’s revelation human, personal, clear and quite concrete. Jesus is handed over to the religious and political powers-that-be, and we must be handed over to God from our power, privilege, and need for control. Otherwise, we will never grow up, or participate in the Mystery of God and Love. It really is about “passing over” to a deeper faith and life.8
As Friar Jude underlines today, we are invited to pass outside of time and enter eternity in the celebration of the Eucharist. This intimacy with the Trinity is the source and summit of fullness of life.
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