Holy Thursday Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper

Reading I: Exodus 12:1–8, 11–14
Psalm: 116:12–13, 15–16bc, 17–18
Reading II: 1 Corinthians 11:23–26
Gospel: John 13:1–15

Traditionally called Maundy Thursday (Latin, mandatum), today we are reminded of the new commandment that Jesus offers us in the Gospel acclamation: “Love one another as I have loved you.”
To this end, the readings for tonight point us to the interconnectedness of the sacraments and the Cross. The Passover of the Old Covenant is fulfilled in the Eucharistic sacrifice of Christ at Calvary. St. Paul tells us, “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the chalice, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” (1 Cor 11:26).

The Mass is none other than our participation in the once-for-all sacrifice that Jesus offered for us on the Cross. It is at Mass that we come face-to-face with the perfect expression of self-giving love, a love which Christ calls us to share. The Sacramental economy is further highlighted in the passage from John’s Gospel when we consider Jesus’s enigmatic explanation to Peter: “He who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but he is clean all over” (John 13:10). Traditionally the “bathing” in this passage has been taken as a reference to baptism, hence Jesus’s insistence that Peter cannot receive this sacrament a second time. Nonetheless, Jesus is careful to stress that the disciples’ feet still need washing, thereby symbolizing our need for ongoing conversion and confession even after we’ve received baptism.
More generally, we can reflect on what Peter’s reluctance and the Lord’s response teach us about the spiritual life. Peter’s struggle is one we are at times tempted to share in: he won’t allow himself to be loved as he ought.

Perhaps there are moments when, like Peter, we know we have a problem, something unclean in our hearts, but out of fear or self-dependence, we refuse to allow the Lord to cleanse our heart as He wishes. Tonight we are reminded that we need to let go of ourselves and let Jesus in.

What are those parts of myself which I feel are unlovable?

How can I surrender these to the tender love of Jesus?

Reference:

Journey Through Lent: Reflections on the Daily Mass Readings by Clement Harrold