March 24, 2016
Holy Thursday - Mass of the Lord's Supper
Recently, I watched the movie “Martian,†a story about an astronaut stranded on Mars. When attempts to rescue seem to fail he communicates back to earth. “I’ll die for something big and beautiful and bigger than me.†We gather today in thanksgiving for the precious gift Jesus gave us at the Last Supper. In the Gospel according to St. Luke (Palm Sunday) Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it saying, “This is my body, which will be given up for you; do this in memory of me.†St. Luke uses the Greek term “soma†which designates not only the physical body but one’s whole life and entire person. The gift of Jesus is sacrificial. On this day (March 24) in 1980 Archbishop Oscar Romero was shot and murdered while he offered Mass in San Salvador. Anticipating his fate, Romero said: “One who is committed to the poor must risk the same fate as the poor. And in El Salvador we know what the fate of the poor signifies: to disappear, to be tortured, to be captive and to be found dead.†When we use the word “presence†of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, we must also be conscious of Jesus present and disguised in the poor. There is no explicit reference to the institution of the Eucharist in the Gospel according to St. John. However, the evangelist does give the key to understanding the deeper meaning of Jesus “shedding his blood.†While at table Jesus removes his outer garment, takes water, basin and towel to wash the feet of his disciples. It is a shocking thing for the teacher and master to do! Peter resists. Jesus is giving us a model of what we should do. We are a very sociable parish but this evening I request silence in the Church when we process with Holy Communion to the Altar of Repose. It is not the time for conversation but reflection on the mystery of the Body of Christ. How can we receive Holy Communion without being mindful of the people in Belgium? How can we adore the Blessed Sacrament without being in solidarity with refugees and immigrants? We are one in Christ.
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Palm Sunday
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Easter
