DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS
MAUNDY THURSDAY
Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14
My Beloved, God was going about to liberate His people
from years of captivity under the heel of the Egyptians. God had heard every
cry, every sigh and He was going to act with power, He would crush the enemy
and would save His people but in order to escape the terrible wrath that was
about to be felt in every Egyptian home beginning with Pharaoh they were to
select a perfect lamb, slaughter it take some of its blood and put it on the
door post and on the lintels of their houses where they would eat the meat of
the lamb which was roasted over the fire. It was to be eaten with unleavened
bread and bitter herbs.
When the angel of death passed over Egypt to strike the
first born in every house including their animals the blood of the lamb would
be a sign for the angel to pass over that house. This day was to be forever
remembered, commemorated and celebrated from one generation to the next as they
recalled how mightily God had saved His people. Awesome as the exodus of God’s
people from slavery to liberation was what it foreshadowed was even more
glorious than any human mind could every conceive as God would offer us true
liberation from slavery to sin and its consequences which is death to eternal
life and perfect joy not only here on earth but in perfect union with God in
heaven.
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
My Beloved, the Church celebrates the Holy Eucharist in
the same manner in which this Sacred Tradition was handed down from You to the
Apostles and from them to those disciples on whom they laid hands and passed on
the authority received from You. If we did not have the hierarchy, the
Magisterium of the Church then there would be no Sacred Meal around which the
faithful could gather and be nourished.
St. Paul makes it very clear that this was the Tradition
he received and which he in turn passed on this is crucial for if it were not
passed on we would not have the Bread of Life to sustain us on our journey from
this life to the next and we who are members of the Body of Christ, His Church,
would perish by the wayside. Today in a special way we recall the institution
of the Sacraments of the Holy Eucharist and Holy Orders for we could not have
one without the other, and how You found a way to remain with us in the
sweetest intimacy ever known between God and humankind so we may experience
here on earth each time we receive You worthily in the Holy Eucharist, the
spousal union we will enjoy eternally in heaven. Thank You Father for this was
Your desire, thank You Holy Spirit for being instrumental in making this
awesome miracle possible and thank You Beloved for becoming the Food our soul
hungers and thirsts for.
Psalm 116:12-13, 15-18
My Beloved, it we see through the eyes of the Holy Spirit
and have ears that are attuned to His Voice we will see and hear all through
Sacred Scripture how God foreordained all that would be fulfilled in You. In
these verses the psalmist, divinely inspired speaks of things that human wisdom
could never conceive of. The Sacrifice of the Holy Mass where You offer
Yourself as Priest and Victim for the expiation of every sin ever committed
from the first to the last. The Father could not bear the thought of having His
children being lost to Him forever through sin and so He sent You into the
world to be born of a Virgin, His handmaid, His fairest of the fair daughters –
Mary, His Mother whom He graciously gave to us to be ours as well. In You
Beloved, we are set free from slavery to sin and our thanksgiving offering is
this, we offer the Father the only pleasing and acceptable Sacrifice to Him –
the Sacrifice You made for us on Calvary, the Holy Mass. Here we call on Your
Name as we bring into the present the Sacrifice of Your Life which purchased
for us redemption by Your Holy Cross. Thank You
John 13:1-15
My Beloved, finally that holy hour has arrived, it is upon You. It is You who have chosen the hour when You will make all things new. The final act in the divine drama was about to be played out which would culminate in Your death by Crucifixion. You know exactly what is going to happen. In fact You have been on a collision course with the Enemy and this was to be the final showdown, a fight to the bitter end.
You were at supper, sharing the special Passover meal with Your friends - the men You had handpicked to carry on the mission that You had begun. Sent by Your Father, You in turn would now send them into the world but not before the face-off with the devil. You were about to demonstrate to the disciples the meaning of true love, perfect love, divine love before You returned to Your Father.
You rose from the table, removed Your garment, took an apron and wrapped it around Your waist then pouring water into a basin You proceeded to wash the feet of Your disciples and to wipe them with the towel. The Apostles looked at You aghast, this menial task was only performed by slaves and You were their Lord and master. They were too astounded to say anything unlike Peter who never hesitated to put both feet in his mouth. He said what the others were too dumbstruck to say, "Why, Lord, you want to wash my feet? You shall never wash my feet?" But once Peter understood that if he was to have communion with You then it was necessary. And although he did not understand the meaning of the gesture at the time, You assured him that he would in time. Then the endearingly impulsive Peter who did nothing by halves said, Lord wash not only my feet, but also my hand and my head." And once again You told him it was not necessary since he was clean already except for his feet. Unlike the wretch seated at the table who had plotted in his evil heart to betray You but had no compunction of sharing the bread, while all the while he was planning how best to lay a trap for You so Your enemies could seize You. After You washed their feet You commanded them to follow Your example and wash each others feet as.
Every member of Your Body is called to model themselves on You. We too must be ready always to strip away pride, robe ourselves in humility and stoop down in love and compassion to tenderly minister to each other.
Beloved.
John 13:1-15
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