Holy Thursday

What greater gift could be given to man than the body and blood of Jesus. For in this is true food and true drink (John 6). How great the institution of the priesthood, which gives us so great a gift, and the handing down of the Liturgy of the Mass by which your ministers give to us your flesh to eat and your blood to drink!

O divine mystery, you who condescend to be amongst your people. You who humbled yourself to share in our humanity.

How great and awesome is this gift of the Eucharist. For by it we are filled with every grace and heavenly blessing. Indeed, this sacred banquet is the source and summit of our whole life. It is the preeminent sacrament of the Church by which man is saved, faults are remedied and weakness is strengthened.

On this night we remember Christ. We remember his words to us and the institution of these great gifts. We come to participate in the mystery of his passion, and to walk with him, in these three days through his suffering, crucifixion, death, and resurrection.

Let us not be lost in the mysteries before us, but seek to enter more deeply into the mystery of Christ. For we are his body. Let us, therefore accompany him along the way.

On this night especially we ought to call to mind his arrest and imprisonment. For he is taken away from us as he had said. Let us tonight then pause, for from our tabernacles the Lord with be taken to a place of repose. Let us, if but for a moment, reflect before the empty tabernacle.

Let us participate in these three days as if they are those days long ago. For here the Church re-presents the mysteries which have won for us so great a victory. It is not a representation but an again, not that he is crucified once more, but that the power of his throne would be made manifest for us in these days, and would be for us now, in this moment a remedy of sin and offering of pure Love.

Let us not let these days pass swiftly, but let us journey with Christ, from the garden to the cross that we might worthily celebrate and praise the glories of his resurrection.

“O God, as we enter these three days let our hearts be raised to you our almighty Father. May we gladly walk with your son on this road to Calvary, so that in sharing in his passion and death we might too share the joy of His resurrection. Through Christ our Lord. Amen”