Holy Week 2023 - MAUNDY THURSDAY
April 6: Exodus 12:1-8,11-14; 1; Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-15
Love is basically a willingness to submit oneself to a way of life that wishes the good of the other. Knowing the needs of the other, without having heard from him or her is a sign of love. Committing myself for the good of the other, without ever thinking of what I would gain, is an attitude of love. Being ready to lay down one's life for the good of the other is the ultimate act of love. There can be no love better that one being ready to lay down one's life for the other and it all begins in being at the service of, the other and the good of the other. The world has grown so callous to 'the other', all that matters to one is oneself and one's own - where is love here? and where would service be here at all!
Maundy
Thursday is the day on which the Lord gave us the famous mandate, the mandate
of love: love one another as I have loved you; love in action - wash each
other's feet; love to be identified as belonging to Christ. The day is filled
with so many things to thank the Lord for.
First
of all, the Eucharist instituted today is a loving service in action, by the
Son of God who gives himself up for our good. Love serves by making itself the
food for the other, by destroying oneself that the other may live!
Priesthood
that is initiated today is a service, a ministry of bringing the Lord to the
people. It is an offering of love that persons chosen and called make for the
Lord, to the Lord's people, for the Lord's mission towards the Reign of
God.
Then
comes the commandment of love - the spoken words of Jesus, that would be lived
out in his action of serving the disciples, washing their feet and waiting on
them at the table! A love in concrete action.
In
every one of these, that which stands out is love. Love is our identity,
love is our mission and love is our meaning. Love is seen in service, true and
selfless service.