THE CELEBRATION OF THE LORD’S SUPPER

(Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14; Psalm 116(115); 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-15)

Theme: The Memorial Ritual of Salvation

Before laying down His life for us on Good Friday, our Lord Jesus had supper with His disciples; as St Paul noted in the second reading, during that supper, He instituted the Eucharist, which He asked us to do in remembrance, memory, or anamnesis of Him.

In other words, He provided us with a ritual for the New Passover meal that supplants the annual Jewish Passover celebration of the Lord's liberative act, as referenced in today’s first reading, which vividly recounts the suffering and liberation of the People of Israel from Egypt.

Through the Mass, we recall our Lord’s sacrifice on the cross, the establishment of the new Passover, His blessed Resurrection, ascension into heaven, and our purification and redemption. The Mass is an anamnesis, or memorial, of the once-and-for-all sacrifice by the Redeemer, who continues to share with those sincerely gathered to receive His cleansing and redeeming grace.

Indeed, the bread of blessing we consume and the wine in the cup of blessing we drink serve not only as a communion in the Lord’s salvific sacrifice but also as a participation in His banquet of love, which is brought to life within the hearts of those partaking in the Eucharistic celebration; we are not only called to embody its fruits of love and compassion but also to share this grace for the salvation of the world.

And so, the passion of our Lord Jesus is not repeated but commemorated. By it, we are inspired to renew our lives and remain open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. In other words, tonight's celebration reminds us that our past salvific stories and all Eucharistic celebrations today have become one; therefore, when we hear the phrase “body of Christ,” it is the Lord Himself offering His body and blood to us, for our purification and salvation.

A purification He demonstrated when He washed the feet of His disciples. By doing so, our Lord revealed that He intends not only to wash our feet on Good Friday but also to cleanse us from sin. In response, our task is to present ourselves to the Lord each day for purification; to partake with a pure heart in His banquet of love; and, before leaving this world, share with others the joy, happiness, success, security, and peace gained from the Lord’s Holy Mass of remembrance.