When the hour came, he took his place at table with the apostles. He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover* with you before I suffer… Then he took a cup,* gave thanks, and said, “Take this and share it among yourselves; ….Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying,
“This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me.” And likewise, the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you. LUKE 22:14-20
INTRODUCTION
Two of our seven sacraments, Holy Eucharist and Holy Orders, were instituted on Holy Thursday. Jesus at the Passover meal took bread and wine and told his disciples to eat and drink, for this was his body and blood, given for the forgiveness of sins,
“Do this in remembrance of me” Luke 22:19
These words, “Do this in remembrance of me” are the foundation for our belief in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist today and establishes the ministerial priesthood (Holy Orders) whereby this command will be carried out through the successors of the apostles until the end of time.
TAKE AND EAT; THIS IS MY BODY
MATTHEW 26:26-30
In St. John’s Gospel we don’t find the institution of the Eucharist but we find Jesus, Servant of servants, washing the feet of His disciples and telling them to do likewise.
Jesus washing the feet of his disciples represents the service and charity of Christ, who came ‘not to be served, but to serve.’ Matthew 20:28
And at supper, Jesus—although knowing that the Father had put everything into his hands, and that he had come from God, and was to return to God— Jesus rose from his place, and, taking off his upper garments, tied a towel round his waist. He then poured some water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel tied round him…..
Do you understand what I have been doing to you?” he asked. “You yourselves call me ‘the Teacher’ and ‘the Master’, and you are right, for I am both. If I, then—’the Master’ and ‘the Teacher’—have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet; For I have given you an example, so that you may do just as I have done to you.” .
“In truth I tell you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor a messenger than the man who sends him. JOHN 13:1-1-26
A SERVANT IS NO GREATER THAN HIS MASTER
REFLECTION
Jesus Christ, is the fullest revelation of God that we can possess on earth. The Eucharist is the sacramental means to abide in Jesus. “”He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.” John 6:54 Abide in me, and I in you” John 15:4.
When I receive the Eucharist in Holy Communion, Do I truly believe I am receiving Jesus body and blood or do I think I am just receiving a symbolic remembrance?
The washing of the feet of His disciples including Judas who betrays Him demonstrates God’s unconditional love for us.
God loves us with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:
What does God’s unconditional love of me say to me?
No one gets to heaven by their self. What am I doing to help others?
How do I love others? Do I have stipulations or conditions? Like what?