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Homily for Holy Thursday/ Maundy Thursday

READ: (Exo 12: 1-8, 11-14; 1 Cor 11: 23-26; Jn 13: 1-15)

REFLECT: Be an example to live lives more meaningfully and convincingly

Dear friends, we are in the first day of Holy Tridum, Holy Thursday or Maundy Thursday. The Holy Day reminds us of the live example that Jesus showed to the humanity in the virtue of humility. The usage of example in our daily life is very common to all of us. To explain an example we need an example. So, teacher gives examples to students; parents give examples to students; books propose examples to students; we priests give examples to you faithful; you faithful too give us examples to live life meaningfully. So likewise, we all give examples to inspire others concretely and convincingly. Why do we give examples? By example things that we have not understood become clearer, by examples we become aware of lives we live presently, by example we understand the reality of life, by examples people are strongly motivated and inspired to follow and live life authentically and happily.

What are the examples have we given? The example of showing to students and children, be good like Gandhi, nehruji, be like this person smart, be like this boy talented, be like your father great in wisdom, be like famous, stylish and good actors in film industry, etc. How many of us have given the example of Jesus to our own kids and people around us? Jesus’ example is an authentic example, an example we witness every day in the Eucharist; an example we Christians are supposed to be following and living the same. We do it rarely. Because that which is dear to us and close to us, we don’t pay much attention or take it lightly or take it for granted.

Today beautiful example Jesus gives: I have set you an example, so do to others what I have done to you.” But it is very difficult to live like Jesus’ examples or someone who have sacrificed their life for the good cause or promotion or salvation of humanity. Because it is costly, it costs even our lives sometimes, our status, and our image in the public. What does this example symbolize? On this day there are three examples Jesus has shown: Eucharist, Institution of Priesthood, washing of the feet of the disciples. In all the three, the underlying significance is Humility: Eucharist - in humility Jesus gives his power; in priesthood - in humility Jesus delegates his power to his representatives; in Foot washing event - Jesus the great leader humbled to wash the feet of his disciples. Jesus gives us today three life-Examples or live examples of his own life on this Holy Thursday. Therefore, based on the liturgy of the word, I would like to share with you three points of reflection:

1. The Eucharist: Jesus gives his power

Who is the real source of power for us Christians? It is Jesus. How this power of Jesus is manifested? It is in and through the Eucharist. It has a high esteem and value in the Catholic Church. In the dogmatic Constitution of the Church in vat-II, LG 11, we hear, “Eucharist is the source and summit of Christian life.” In the decree on the Ministry and life of Priest (PO 5) we hear, “The Eucharist contains the Church’s entire wealth and Christ himself.” In the encyclical written by St. John Paul II, Ecclesia de Eucharistia very beautifully says, “Eucharist is the heart of the Mystery of the Church, the church draws her life from the Eucharist and the Church discovers the full manifestation of Christ’s boundless love.”

Therefore, we the followers of Christ are called to be proud for we have received supreme power to overpower the power of the worldly crisis, worldly wisdom, worldly wealth, worldly power and worldly popularity. The temporary powers of this world could never withstand with the power of the Eucharist, where, Jesus comes in person to visit us and dwell in us in the form of bread and wine. Jesus comes to become part of us as flesh of flesh and blood of blood. That’s what we hear from the second reading, which speaks of the institution of the Eucharist to remain with us forever.

Today, many of us have not realized the power within the church and go to different other sectors, like sometimes Israelites who went after other God’s not knowing the power of Yahweh. But after realization they come back weeping and mourning, that real strength and power lie in Yahweh. Today, we pray for many people who have gone astray from the Church, who does not believe in the power of the Eucharist; we pray for people who undervalue the power of the Eucharist that they come back to experience the power of Lord and be transformed to live a new life in Christ.

2. The Priesthood: He delegates his power

We all know that Jesus always tells us in the scriptures, “Do to others what I have done to you, take representations and delegations on my behalf.” The work what Jesus had done is entrusted beginning from Peter to now priests to work for God and his people. The work of blessings, breaking the word of God and distribution of bread and wine (the most holy body and blood of Christ) is given by priests, the representatives of Christ.

How is this priesthood understood today? Is it the choice of the few individuals or all? It is for all. Many do not come forward. Because it costs us more, have to sacrifice physically, emotionally, economically, culturally, socially and spiritually. Sometimes we tend to send students who are weak in strength, studies and status. How is our approach towards priesthood and priests? If we don’t understand and promote the priesthood, it would mean that we don’t promote the work of Christ. If we don’t support the priest or the church in need, it means we don’t support Christ and the church. The priesthood does not remain only at the ritual level but rather in actual level of doing and realizing it. Today we pray for priests all over the world, that we may see Christ in them that we priest may live Christ in life to be true representatives of Christ. We also pray that priests render service in the way of Christ, the saviour and master, touching and healing people by words and deeds.

3. The Foot-Washing Event: He gives up His power

In the parable of the Rich man and the Lazarus, the rich man was on the chair and Lazarus was down the chair. On another occasion Jesus says that, which of the masters will call his servant to come and dine with him after having finished his master’s work (In Lk 17:7-10). But Jesus, the master does like the servant. Like Lazarus down the floor, Jesus stoops down and washes the feet of the disciples that were dusty and dirty, the master who wants to eat the Passover meal with his own disciples. This indeed is a privilege for all of us. The washing of the feet of the disciples is just a symbolic gesture of Jesus to prove his love for us. It is not ritualistic way of washing the feet matters but rather, we are called clean one another mind, heart, body and spirit, so as to partake of the Holy Sacrifice, in which Jesus gave up himself for us.

In the washing of the feet of the disciples we find that Jesus who is power, who has the power, gives up his power as Son of God, the messiah, to wash the feet of the disciples and make them clean. If Jesus the Lord and Master has washed the feet of his disciples, then we are to do what the Master and the Lord had done. If Jesus the Master had become servant, then we need to be servants of one another in the service of the Lord. This is the humility of Jesus. Today, how many of us as politicians, religious leaders, various office holders in secular institutes would dare to do such a thing in humility? Perhaps it is beyond one's public image and imagination. Today we pray for humility, which at times brings us pain and sorrow, that we may become an example after the example of Christ.

So, on this Holy Thursday, let’s pray that we may understand the power that Jesus gives us in the Eucharist. Let’s pray that we may understand the power that is delegated or given in and through priests, the representatives and delegates of Christ. Let’s pray that we understand that Jesus gives up his power, so that we may be empowered to be an authentic and exemplary Christians in the world.

RESPOND:

Do we realize the power of the Eucharist manifested in it and as and when we participate in the Holy Mass?

Do we realize the importance and the gift of Priesthood that God has given to the humanity to permeate his presence and be present with us?

Do we understand the humility of God manifested through Jesus in our lives by the act of foot-washing event of the disciples?

So let us set and be an example for others to live lives more meaningfully and convincingly by the virtue of humility and by live examples in our lives, which touch the human hearts concretely. Amen.

God bless us all… Live Jesus!