Our Holy Thursday Homily

For this celebration, the Tabernacle should be entirely empty. Today, also, a sufficient amount of bread should be consecrated for tomorrow. It breathtakingly expresses how dependent we are on the love of Jesus, our Lord. This bread, the sign of His love, nourishes us, sustains our souls. It keeps our faith and life alive…
 
But today, this small amount of bread for the congregation, also tells, tonight, how much Jesus needs our support, prayers, and faithfulness. We know that Peter and his apostles will betray him… What Jesus shares with us today, his love, is indeed our real sustenance and resource. What Jesus needs in this Last Supper, is the renewal of our faith.
 
We receive this Holy Communion not only on our behalf. We receive this sustenance, as the seed of Eternal life, on behalf of the community. Even more, we receive it on behalf of the world… as all of us need this seed of the rebirth of faith… which bread and wine is the sustenance of the renewal of faith and life. Thus, this supper makes us ‘apostles’, messengers, witnesses for the future renewal of the world. Something important happens to the world through us…
 
What are we celebrating today? We celebrate the two great sacraments, the foundation of the priesthood and the foundation of the Holy Eucharist. We celebrate the great sign of his love, the washing of the feet of the disciples.  
 
 This love lifts us up to God. This great love lifts us up to the level where we should be. If we were low, if one made serious mistakes in life, which is impossible to repair and make things whole again – Jesus removes all burdens from us. In his presence, we are being healed. Our failed hopes have a new hope, a new continuation in Christ. We know that what happens to Jesus is unknown, unexpected to the disciples. But from now on, we are all caught up in the Love of the Father. Within this love, nothing can fall apart, no one can be lost.
 
Let us receive this healing touch… let us receive this very special laying on of hands. Jesus touches our feet, the lowest point of our bodies. This is an expression of his all embracing, all redeeming, and all healing love. Let this gesture carry us into the depths and mysteries of the Holy Three days of our Lord’s passion.