Thursday of

The Mysteries

Today we commemorate the institution of the Mystery of the Lord's body and blood and his command of humble service as exemplified by his washing of his disciples' feet.

Each year the people of Israel celebrated the great event of their Passover from the bondage of slavery in Egypt to the freedom of the Promised Land. This feast of the Passover had many dimensions to it; its origins are recounted in the Book of Exodus.

In order to force the pharaoh to set the Israelites free, the Lord sent a series of plagues to the Egyptians. Finally, the Lord sent the angel of death to kill all the first-born of the Egyptians -- children and animals. The Israelites, however, were told to sacrifice a lamb and mark their door posts with its blood, they were then to eat the lamb and be ready to depart from Egypt. The angel of death passed over the homes of the Israelites and destroyed the first-born of the Egyptians. The Israelites were allowed by the Pharaoh to go into the desert in order to worship the Lord. The Israelite women did not have time to bake leavened bread before they left and therefore they left unleavened dough, which they carried into the desert, baked in the sun. When they reached the Red Sea, Moses parted the water and the people of Israel crossed in safety. The pharaoh became angry and sent soldiers after the Israelites; but, at the command of Moses, the waters returned to their place and the soldiers drowned.

Each year as the Jews celebrated the Passover, they sacrificed a lamb and ate unleavened bread in fulfillment of the command -- that they yearly celebrate the Passover.

On the night before he died, Jesus ate the Passover supper with his disciples. As he gave them the broken bread, he told them that it was his body; and, when he gave them the cup of wine, he proclaimed that it was his blood. Thus, he established the new Passover and instituted the new covenant. And, as he commanded, the Church continued to celebrate the mysteries of his body and blood and received them in faith.

Christ is the new Passover lamb who nourishes us with his body and blood. Thus, the Church sings:

Holy are you, O Passover Lamb and the one who eats it.
Holy are you, who distributes your body and blood as food and drink...
Glory to you, O eternal Passover, now and for ever.

At the same meal Jesus washed his disciples' feet and so taught them that they must be willing to serve others in humility.

Today our Savior poured water into a basin.
He blessed it, tied a towel around his waist and
willingly began to wash his disciples' feet.
Glory be to the Most High; he came to earth
out of love for us. He humbled himself and endured
suffering for our salvation. He taught his Church
humility through this example.

May the body and blood of Christ, our Passover, nourish and strengthen us that we might serve God and each other in true humility and love.