HOLY THURSDAY REFLECTION BY EZENWATU PHILIP C.
HOLY THURSDAY REFLECTION BY EZENWATU PHILIP C.
Every Faith celebration without a history is a myth, without Theology is a superstition and without mystery is deceit.
I invite you to reflect with me.
1st Reading: Exodus 12: 1 -8, 11–14
2nd Reading: 1Cor. 11: 23–6
Gospel: John 13: 1-15
BEGINS: Today the Christian faith begins the end part of the Paschal mystery(passion, death and resurrection of Christ)
THEME: DO THIS...IN MEMORY OF ME
Today is also called Maundy Thursday.
Many give name to today's liturgy according to the various mysteries it celebrates. Three things are Peculiar today – the Institution of the Eucharist, of the Priesthood, and the giving of new commandment of love (Mandatum), through the washing of feet.You can say Happy birthday to any Priest you see today.
In the Morning, we, in the Chrism Mass, saw the Priestly commitment renewed through vows in the communion of the Bishop and the Priests gathered around the Table of the Eucharist.
In the beginning, this feast was without a specific name and was so celebrated as part and in commemoration of the Passion event of Christ. In the 5th century, it was called Natale Chalicis (Birth of chalice), and in the 7th century, it was called Natale Sacramentis (Birth of Sacraments):with an eye that the Eucharist is the source of the other Sacraments;the only Sacrament that contains the one who instituted it. This Sacrament is tied, as twin, to the Priesthood. They both give rise to each other. In the Eucharist, we see a Logical consequence of Christ's incarnation – Christ is substantially present in the Eucharist(due to heresies regarding Christ's substantial presence and extra liturgical presence in the Medieval era, so many congregations and devotions arose on a perpetual adoration of the Sacred Specie even after liturgical celebrations as a means to combat these heresies). With the Priesthood instituted in the Eucharist as twin Sacraments, Christ gives a new law alongside— showing that the Priesthood is at the service of the Eucharist and the Eucharist cannot be without the priesthood: service in Love is the watch word. The Gospel reminds us that immediately after the last supper(immediately after this institution of the Eucharist and consequently the Priesthood)Christ showed their meaning in the new law of LOVE and FRATERNAL CHARITY by washing the feet of his disciples(a call into the priestly stole and towel: of dignity and service respectively). In other words, it is a call into the washing of our souls clean. In the first reading, we see the connection between Jewish Passover and our Christian Eucharist – the former remarks exclusion, while the latter remarks inclusion. The Jewish Passover prepares and prefigures our Christian Eucharist, holding strong connection and similarities, although not without essential differences.
In the Second Reading, Paul recalls this Oral tradition he had received and shows how Christ in Instituting the Eucharist, instituted the Priesthood.
DO THIS…IN MEMORY OF ME. (HOC FACITE IN MEAM COMMEMORATIONE).
There is a load of meaning in this "DO THIS". It defines everything we do as Christians. Exclusively and strictly, it is addressed to Priests, but loosely and inclusively, it is addressed to all of us who are Priests in the common sense of the word(the common priesthood by virtue of our baptism). The summary of this “do this” is the new commandment of love. This was why, in Antioch, the first Christians were so called because of their love and service. It is the distinguishing mark of Christianity: the first Passover and the Eucharist shared this distinction. "IN MEMORY OF ME" goes further to give concreteness and direction to the "DO THIS". Whatever we do as Christians must have its push drawn from the memory of our Lord. In the words of St Augustine: "Love God and do as it pleases you". This may sound like a fundamental option, but it is an option that comes before and propels the action of the Christian. Today various actions undertaken by Christians have lost sight of the memory of Christ and this has led to various frustrations and ills menacing our world today.
In the Gospel, after the last supper, Jesus began to wash the feet of his disciples. This he did to show that our celebration of the Holy Mass should not just end in the lex orandi(prayer);it should equal our lex credendi(faith)and our lex vivendi(life and action) It should empty into service, love and humility. “Ite missa est”(the Mass is ended)implies “Go and Preach the Gospel”. We are commissioned for mission with our life. Hence, our life should always bear fruit. But today, even from the altar of Mass, we see our Priests in lack of love and in great enmity; how then can this love be transmitted. Even us the people of God – we forget the injunction of love given to us and the society is in great decay and want of love.
There are so many mysteries attached to the celebration of today and so, we pray for the Priests and the Priesthood of Christ. We also pray for faith to behave and trust in the Power of the Eucharist, knowing full well that it is Christ who remains, as body and soul, after the Mass as against the heresies promulgated by the reformers and beyond.
Every Faith celebration without a history is a myth, without Theology is a superstition and without mystery is deceit.
I invite you to reflect with me.
1st Reading: Exodus 12: 1 -8, 11–14
2nd Reading: 1Cor. 11: 23–6
Gospel: John 13: 1-15
BEGINS: Today the Christian faith begins the end part of the Paschal mystery(passion, death and resurrection of Christ)
THEME: DO THIS...IN MEMORY OF ME
Today is also called Maundy Thursday.
Many give name to today's liturgy according to the various mysteries it celebrates. Three things are Peculiar today – the Institution of the Eucharist, of the Priesthood, and the giving of new commandment of love (Mandatum), through the washing of feet.You can say Happy birthday to any Priest you see today.
In the Morning, we, in the Chrism Mass, saw the Priestly commitment renewed through vows in the communion of the Bishop and the Priests gathered around the Table of the Eucharist.
In the beginning, this feast was without a specific name and was so celebrated as part and in commemoration of the Passion event of Christ. In the 5th century, it was called Natale Chalicis (Birth of chalice), and in the 7th century, it was called Natale Sacramentis (Birth of Sacraments):with an eye that the Eucharist is the source of the other Sacraments;the only Sacrament that contains the one who instituted it. This Sacrament is tied, as twin, to the Priesthood. They both give rise to each other. In the Eucharist, we see a Logical consequence of Christ's incarnation – Christ is substantially present in the Eucharist(due to heresies regarding Christ's substantial presence and extra liturgical presence in the Medieval era, so many congregations and devotions arose on a perpetual adoration of the Sacred Specie even after liturgical celebrations as a means to combat these heresies). With the Priesthood instituted in the Eucharist as twin Sacraments, Christ gives a new law alongside— showing that the Priesthood is at the service of the Eucharist and the Eucharist cannot be without the priesthood: service in Love is the watch word. The Gospel reminds us that immediately after the last supper(immediately after this institution of the Eucharist and consequently the Priesthood)Christ showed their meaning in the new law of LOVE and FRATERNAL CHARITY by washing the feet of his disciples(a call into the priestly stole and towel: of dignity and service respectively). In other words, it is a call into the washing of our souls clean. In the first reading, we see the connection between Jewish Passover and our Christian Eucharist – the former remarks exclusion, while the latter remarks inclusion. The Jewish Passover prepares and prefigures our Christian Eucharist, holding strong connection and similarities, although not without essential differences.
In the Second Reading, Paul recalls this Oral tradition he had received and shows how Christ in Instituting the Eucharist, instituted the Priesthood.
DO THIS…IN MEMORY OF ME. (HOC FACITE IN MEAM COMMEMORATIONE).
There is a load of meaning in this "DO THIS". It defines everything we do as Christians. Exclusively and strictly, it is addressed to Priests, but loosely and inclusively, it is addressed to all of us who are Priests in the common sense of the word(the common priesthood by virtue of our baptism). The summary of this “do this” is the new commandment of love. This was why, in Antioch, the first Christians were so called because of their love and service. It is the distinguishing mark of Christianity: the first Passover and the Eucharist shared this distinction. "IN MEMORY OF ME" goes further to give concreteness and direction to the "DO THIS". Whatever we do as Christians must have its push drawn from the memory of our Lord. In the words of St Augustine: "Love God and do as it pleases you". This may sound like a fundamental option, but it is an option that comes before and propels the action of the Christian. Today various actions undertaken by Christians have lost sight of the memory of Christ and this has led to various frustrations and ills menacing our world today.
In the Gospel, after the last supper, Jesus began to wash the feet of his disciples. This he did to show that our celebration of the Holy Mass should not just end in the lex orandi(prayer);it should equal our lex credendi(faith)and our lex vivendi(life and action) It should empty into service, love and humility. “Ite missa est”(the Mass is ended)implies “Go and Preach the Gospel”. We are commissioned for mission with our life. Hence, our life should always bear fruit. But today, even from the altar of Mass, we see our Priests in lack of love and in great enmity; how then can this love be transmitted. Even us the people of God – we forget the injunction of love given to us and the society is in great decay and want of love.
There are so many mysteries attached to the celebration of today and so, we pray for the Priests and the Priesthood of Christ. We also pray for faith to behave and trust in the Power of the Eucharist, knowing full well that it is Christ who remains, as body and soul, after the Mass as against the heresies promulgated by the reformers and beyond.
Comments
Post a Comment
Thank you.