Every day of Lent, Bishop Edward Malesic writes a Scripture reflection for the faithful. Follow the bishop on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Click HERE for the readings.
We find the account of the institution of the Holy Eucharist in St. Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, which relates how Jesus took the break and broke it and said of it, “This is my body that is for you.”
The Gospel of John for Holy Thursday tells us the story of Jesus bending down to wash the feet of his apostles on the night he gave us his Body and his Blood to eat and drink. This was on the night before he died for us.
Jesus made it clear that the Eucharist is intimately connected with sacrifice and service.
Jesus feeds us with his Body and Blood in order to be useful in the kingdom of God. He energizes us with his sacrifice so that we can sacrifice for one another. He feeds us with his Eucharistic presence so that we can go wash feet, just as he did on that Passover night.
The table we approach at Mass is nothing less than the altar of the Lord’s service — his sacrifice — his life given for us. On Holy Thursday, we recall what he did for us, how he died for us, what he gave up for us, and how he loved us, how he washed our feet. May we do the same for him, as we give our lives for the One who gave his life for us.