Love with humility & remember his sacrifice

Tonight I had the opportunity to partake in Holy Thursday's Washing of the Feet at my home parish. The mandatum rite is meant to be much more than re-enacting what Jesus did. It is even more than fulfilling his words to "do what I have done to you." The ritual washing of feet firmly proclaims Holy Thursday night: first moment of the church's Triduum where such signs of compassionate care & service say what we have received from our Lord. Jesus' washing of the feet of his disciples is a sign of His humility by performing this act. It is symbol of His message of service (caritas) that he conveys to the Apostles by acting as a personal attendant for the needs of the Apostles. 

Another element of Holy Thursday, which my pastor highlighted in his homily, is the origin of the priesthood. Holy Thursday (while it is debated by some) is the anniversary of the ministerial priesthood. While each priest is ordained at different times, in different places, all share in the one eternal priesthood of Christ, who "ordained" as it were, the Twelve as the first priests of the New Covenant as He simultaneously established the Eucharist. The two sacraments, the Holy Eucharist and Holy Orders, are fused together in the mind of the Savior. The two are the cardinal instruments in the plan of salvation Christ has set out before us. 

Today's world is the same world Christ still loves. This world is being recreated anew as Christ continues His mission through the Church, His Body, of which we are all members. We are all part of the Mystical Body of Christ; the Communion of Love called the Church. This Church still brings heaven to earth and earth to heaven. In coming to grasp this mystery-rather than being grasped by it-we come to understand Christ's love. 

O God, who have called us to participate

in this most sacred Supper,

in which your Only Begotten Son,

when about to hand himself over to death,

entrusted to the Church a sacrifice new for all eternity,

the banquet of his love,

grant, we pray,

that we may draw from so great a mystery,

the fullness of charity and of life.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.