DATE : 1/4/2021
EVENT : Holy Thursday Of Easter Triduum (Maundy Thursday)
COLOUR: White
READINGS : Exodus 12:1-8,11-14; Resp. Psalm 115:12-13,15-18; 1Cor. 11:23-26; John 13:1-15.
THEME: THE EUCHARIST; THE PRIESTHOOD AND HUMAN SALVATION
Greetings beloved people of God. I welcome you to "My Catholic Homily Digest". On this First day of April, which is also the first day of the Easter Triduum, Holy or Maundy Thursday, I wish to reflect with you on the theme: " The Eucharist; The Priesthood And Human Salvation". Beloved in Christ, I want to start today's homily by welcoming you to this Fourth month of the year 2021. As a Catholic priest, I declare that this month shall see the start of new testimonies in your life, you shall grow in the fear of the lord and the good lord will protect and hallow all that concerns you in this month of April, through the power of His Christ, whose passion and resurection we venerate this season.
Beloved, today is not just a regular new month, it is also Maundy Thursday, Holy Thursday, Thursday of mysteries, covenant Thursday, and sheer Thursday. It is the fifth day of Holy Week, preceded by Spy Wednesday and succeeded by Good Friday. It is called Maundy Thursday because Jesus gave His disciples a new commandments, called mandatum , in Latin, to love, to be humble and to serve, exemplified by his washing of his disciples' feets. More so, as Jesus' hour of humiliation and glory draw near, he reveals to his disciples the supreme humility which shaped the love he had for them, as he stooped to perform a menial task reserved for servants; the washing of smelly, dirty feets. In stooping to serve his disciples, Jesus knew he would be betrayed by one of them and that the rest would abandon him through fear and disloyalty. Such knowledge could have easily led to bitterness or hatred. Yet, Jesus chose to meet the injury of betrayal and disloyalty with the greatest humility and supreme love. What a compelling commandment (Maundy) indeed it was.
The mystery which the Catholic Church celebrates today is many fold. In fact, according to the teaching of the Church these days of Triduum is the most sacred days of the liturgical calendar. Thus, the special place which 'Sundays' occupy in a week, the triduum occupies in the liturgical year. On this Maundy Thursday, the Church celebrates the greatest mystery and gift of God to man; the institution of the Holy Eucharist, co-joined with this is also the institution of the sacred Priesthood, after Christ, the eternal High priest. According to the rubric for holy Thursday celebration in the GIRM, today is also the day of Chrism Mass, when the holy oils of Catechumens, Sick and Chrism, are blessed for use in the administration of the sacraments. Although for pastoral reasons, the Chrism Mass can be moved to a more appropriate date not too far from Easter.
Although there are many celebrations on this day, the highest point of it all is the institution of the Holy Eucharist by Jesus Christ himself, in the presence of his twelve apostles only. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, "out of love for his disciples, knowing full well that his time on earth is drawing close and in order never to depart from his own, but make them sharers in his Passover, Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist, as the memorial of his death and resurrection; and He sternly commanded his apostles to celebrate it in memory of him until he returns (Cf. Luke 22:19); by this very actions, Jesus constituted them priests of the New Testament" (Cf. CCC Art. 1337). Although instituted prior to his death on the cross, the Holy Eucharist is truly the Sacrifice of the Body and Blood of Christ, who under the species of bread and wine, and through the ministry of priest, is offered to God in renewal of the supreme Sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross (Cf. Pastoral Guide, Vol. 2, Art. 63).
Furthermore, the Eucharist receives it's efficacy from the words of Jesus who can never lie (Cf. Num. 23:19) and from the bloody sacrifice of the cross. Thus, without the sacrifice on Calvary, the Eucharist would remain an empty ritual (Cf. Pastoral Guide, Vol. 2., Art 63). Therefore, through the Eucharistic sacrifice offered by priests around the world today, the salvation accomplished by Christ is wrought over and over again, and the sacrifice of Calvary is made present in an unbloody manner in every corner of the earth. The sacrifice of the Holy Eucharist is unique in the sense that Christ is the sole architect of the entire process. He is both the victim and lamb of sacrifice, he is the Altar of sacrifice, he is the high priest that offers the sacrifice, and he is the God to whom the sacrifice is addressed to. Thus, he offers himself, on himself, by himself and to himself, entirely for our sake and for our salvation. Through the bloody sacrifice on Calvary, Jesus ransomed us from satanic bondage and exchanged his life for our death. And through the Eucharist, he continues to strengthen, sustain and reinvigorate this life in us. Oh what a mysterious love beyond human grasp.
Judging from the mystery of the sacrifice of the cross, it is obvious that no one can effect the work redemption except Jesus Christ, the immolated victim. These follows that the Catholic priesthood is not just a mere occupation or vocation. It is an invitation to participate in the saving actions of Christ. The priest is not his own, he does not choose or call himself, he acts in Persona Christi Capitis. This means that by means of his sacerdotal consecration which he receives at ordination, the priest is truly transformed into Christ ( Alter Christus), the high priest, and therefore possesses the authority to act in the power and place of the person of Christ himself; " virtute ac persona ipsius Christi" (Cf. Pius XII Nov. 20, 1947, Encyclical _Mediator Dei ). So, just as Christ is the source of all Priesthood; and the Priesthood of old prefigured Christ, so does the Catholic priest acts in the person and power of Christ, the eternal High priest. Therefore, the Catholic priest is the visible mediator of divine realities, bringing God to man as Christ did and offering the sacrifices and prayers of man to God in the person of Christ.
So, Beloved, as we celebrate this Maundy Thursday of humble service, this day of the institution of the Holy Eucharistic and the ministerial Priesthood, let us pray for a change of attitude towards our veneration of the Holy Eucharist, let us stop all forms of abuses and unworthy reception of the Eucharist. Let us honour and accord respect to our priests for they are the emissaries and Images of Christ to us. They are the bearers of the mysteries of salvation and they are the ones lawfully entrusted by Christ to serve us as Christ served his apostles this Maundy Thursday. Let us pray for them, especially when their human weaknesses seem to overshadow and clampdown on their divine task. Finally beloved friends, let us remember to keep watch with Christ, today, even if it is for one hour.
Oh that today you would listen to his voice harden not your hearts (Ps.95:7-8).
LET US PRAY : Lord Jesus, your love conquers all and never fails. Help me to love others freely, with heart-felt compassion, kindness and goodness. Where there is injury, may I sow peace rather than strife...
The Lord be with you....... and with your Spirit.
May Almighty God bless you in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit ....Amen
HAPPY MAUNDY THURSDAY BELOVED FRIENDS
@ Fada Emmanuel Nnamdi Megwara, MSP. ⛪
No comments:
Post a Comment