{"id":2474,"date":"2018-03-29T20:39:39","date_gmt":"2018-03-30T00:39:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.renewaloffaith.org\/blog\/?p=2474"},"modified":"2018-03-29T20:39:39","modified_gmt":"2018-03-30T00:39:39","slug":"holy-thursday-homily-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.renewaloffaith.org\/blog\/holy-thursday-homily-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Holy Thursday Homily"},"content":{"rendered":"

Holy Thursday<\/a>
\nExodus 12:1-8, 11-14
\nPsalm 116:12-13, 15-16bc, 17-18
\n1 Corinthians 11:23-26
\nJohn 13:1-15
\nMarch 29, 2018<\/p>\n

In recent weeks we have heard Jesus speak of \u201chis hour.\u201d\u00a0 Today we hear this hour identified as the hour where he passes \u201cfrom this world to the Father<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

This verse referring to Jesus\u2019 passing occurs at the Last Supper so it is not simply the exact time of his death.\u00a0 It is more than that.<\/p>\n

Let us begin by looking at when God chooses this to happen.\u00a0 It is not just a random date.\u00a0 He chooses the time of the Passover that was placed at the head of the calendar from the time of the first Passover.\u00a0 The Passover is a \u201cmemorial feast<\/em>\u201d, \u201ca perpetual institution<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Passover is an event that defines the Jews as a people.\u00a0 It is the event where God sets his people free from slavery in Egypt.\u00a0 This showed that God was not just a local god with power only in his own land but that He is the one true God and is God everywhere.<\/p>\n

The Passover was celebrated from the time of the Exodus to the time of Jesus with the sacrifice of a lamb \u201cwithout blemish.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

The Passover is the time God chooses to be Jesus\u2019 hour.<\/p>\n

Like the Passover, Jesus\u2019 hour is not simply an hour in history.\u00a0 It is the time of our salvation.\u00a0 In the Passover God set his people free from slavery in Egypt.\u00a0 In Jesus\u2019 hour, we are set free from slavery to our sins.<\/p>\n

As much as the Jews were defined by the Passover, we are shaped by what we celebrate as Jesus\u2019 hour.<\/p>\n

Yet, it is not just one hour.\u00a0 What we celebrate as Jesus\u2019 hour takes place over three days, what we call the \u201cEaster Triduum.\u201d\u00a0 It begins with the Eucharist.\u00a0 What Jesus did at the Last Supper and what he tells us to do \u201cin remembrance<\/em>\u201d of him is the Eucharist.<\/p>\n

So, we call what we Jesus did then \u201cthe Institution of the Eucharist.\u201d\u00a0 It is Jesus\u2019 Body and Blood.\u00a0 To celebrate the Eucharist as a liturgy we need a priest to preside.\u00a0 Hence, tonight is also seen as \u201cthe Institution of the Priesthood.\u201d<\/p>\n

This leads us to the washing of the feet.\u00a0 By his example, Jesus shows us what it means to serve others.\u00a0 He is the master.\u00a0 The washing of feet was the role of a servant.\u00a0 Jesus is our king but he does not come that we might serve him.\u00a0 He comes to serve us.\u00a0 This is an example for all of us but in a special way for priests.<\/p>\n

In the Passover celebration a lamb was sacrificed.\u00a0 A priest is one who offers sacrifice.\u00a0 We call the Eucharist a sacrifice.\u00a0 What is sacrificed?\u00a0 Jesus.<\/p>\n

This leads back to how I said that Jesus\u2019 hour was not just one hour in time but an event spread over three days.\u00a0 The sacrifice offered in the Eucharist is Jesus\u2019 giving of his life on the Cross.\u00a0 It is in this context that he speaks of the bread and wine as his Body and Blood given up for us, given up on the Cross.<\/p>\n

So, as Paul writes, \u201cFor as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes<\/em>.\u201d\u00a0 Every <\/em><\/strong>time we celebrate Mass, we are celebrating the Eucharist as the sacrifice of the Crucifixion.<\/p>\n

So, that is two days.\u00a0 Day 3 is the Resurrection.\u00a0 We will hear of Jesus\u2019 Crucifixion tomorrow and his Resurrection at Easter but as we proceed into our Triduum and reflect on the Eucharist, Crucifixion, and Resurrection, we must realize they are not three different events.\u00a0 They are one event and can only be fully understand when they tied together.<\/p>\n

We will celebrate this gift of the Eucharist in a few minutes but first we will celebrate \u201cThe Washing of the Feet.\u201d\u00a0 I will take off my chasuble just as Jesus took off his outer garment.\u00a0 The outer garment can be a sign of status but being a priest is not about status.\u00a0 It is about serving.<\/p>\n

Twelve people will come forward.\u00a0 They are not chosen because of some great thing they do.\u00a0 They are chosen to represent all our parishioners.<\/p>\n

As I get down on my knees, I will wash one foot of each person.\u00a0 This washing is not for physical cleaning.\u00a0 It reminds us of our need for God to cleanse our souls.<\/p>\n

For me, it is a very humbly experience.\u00a0 It is not about me.\u00a0 As I go from person to person, I don\u2019t see just twelve individuals.\u00a0 I see all the people of the parish whom I have been called to serve. \u00a0I have been called to help make Jesus\u2019 presence visible in your lives.<\/p>\n

The Eucharist is key.\u00a0 It is the Real Presence of Jesus.\u00a0 I can\u2019t say this enough.\u00a0 Because of grace I receive in presiding I have NO DOUBT<\/em><\/strong> that it is Jesus.\u00a0 It is Jesus giving his life for us.\u00a0 It is the sacrifice of Jesus.\u00a0 It is his Body and Blood.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Holy Thursday Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14 Psalm 116:12-13, 15-16bc, 17-18 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 John 13:1-15 March 29, 2018 In recent weeks we have heard Jesus speak of \u201chis hour.\u201d\u00a0 Today we hear this hour identified as the hour where he passes \u201cfrom this world to the Father.\u201d This verse referring to Jesus\u2019 passing occurs at the …<\/p>\n

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