Some of us might try to fill the day with as many exhilarating activities as possible: sky diving, roller coasters, driving a racecar or a harley davidson at its maximum speed. Some of us might fill the day with fine wines and a sumptuous feast. Others might prefer to spend the day contemplatively on a beach, watching the sun rise and set. Some might tell family that you love them, listen to some beautiful music, make a video recording to offer a message to the future generation. I’d probably like to go to confession, knowing that I’d soon be appearing before the judgment seat of God.
Well, what does the Lord Jesus do, knowing he has but a day to live? We just heard part of his final hours in the Gospel this evening. The Lord gathers with his friends for a final meal. Many of us would likely do the same. Far fewer of us, however, would likely tie a towel around our waist and begin to wash the dirt and grime off the feet of our friends.
There is something so humanely profound about an intimate meal with friends. We enjoy peace and company with those who understand us. There’s something wonderful about sharing happy or funny memories with friends around a dinner table. No doubt, this time the Lord spent with his friends filled him with warmth and strength as he prepared for his upcoming trial of the cross.
But the Lord didn’t share any old meal with his disciples. He celebrated the Passover meal, the great ritual meal in which the Jews recalled how God freed his people from Egyptian Slavery. This was a meal that looked to not only human accomplishments, but divine accomplishments, and also looked forward to the future—when God would usher in his eternal kingdom of peace.
The gathering with friends for the religious meal, of course, for Catholics, takes place every Sunday; for some of us, every day. Since I entered seminary back in 2001, I’ve tried to attend Mass or celebrate Mass every day. I know I speak for those who attend daily mass, when I say, that it’s the most important part of my day. Because of what Jesus did at the last supper, we are able to receive His Body and Blood every day, if we wish.
And every time we gather for Mass, celebrate the Passover in its truest sense, recalling not only how God delivered the Jews from Egyptian slavery, but how God delivered all mankind from the slavery of sin through the suffering and death of Jesus on the Cross. And like the Jewish Passover, the Mass also looks forward in time, doesn’t it? As we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim your death, O Lord, until you come again. We look back to his saving death, and look forward to his future return.
And we do so, with our friends, friends in the truest sense, our brothers and sisters in Christ, made one through the blood of the Lamb. And we eat, not ordinary food, do we? Whenever we gather for Mass, we are sharing the Last Supper with Jesus who feeds his friends with his Flesh and Blood. He feeds us because he loves us, and he knows that we need this spiritual nourishment throughout all of life’s joys and challenges. In our greatest joys and greatest sorrows, we can share in this sacred meal with Him, and know that he speaks those words to us, “take and eat, take and drink”.
“O sacred banquet at which Christ is consumed, the memory of his Passion is recalled, our souls are filled with grace, and the pledge of future glory is given to us So says the ancient hymn, “O sacrum convivium” O sacred banquet.
We also recall tonight, how at the Last Supper, Jesus not only fed, he also washed. The teacher took the low role of the servant, and washed the feet of his friends, to teach them, to give them an example of an attitude that must mark the life of every Christian, whether you are a priest, bishop, pope, or lay person. We must wash feet. Christianity is a religion of foot washing. Christians are to put ourselves at the service of others in all places at all times.
It is humiliating, yes, but it is the way of Christ. As St. Augustine writes: “as [man] was lost by imitating the pride of the deceiver, let him now, when found, imitate the humility of the Redeemer.” This is the humble act of the Christian, set against the pride of the world. Jesus washing the feet of his disciple is a symbolic expression of his entire life-- Jesus lowered himself to serve sinful mankind, clothing himself in our miserable flesh to wash away our sins through his sacrifice.
And so we must serve. We must serve not only those who will repay us. Not only those who look like us and act like us. We must serve all because Jesus served all.
At this Sacred banquet Christ teaches and feeds and washes and prepares us for the sacred banquet of heaven which will last for all eternity. When we live according to his teaching and example, in humble service of others, with heaven in mind, we can truly say we are living each day as it should.
As the Lord rose from supper and began to wash the feet of his disciples as an example to follow, I now invite those who have been chosen to come forward for the washing of their feet. Please pray for your priests and pray for each other, that we may lay our hearts bare to Christ to be washed and fed, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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