HOLY THURSDAY: EVENING MASS OF THE LORD’S SUPPER

He loved them to the end.

In Jewish families, the youngest child plays an important role at the Passover seder. The child asks, “Why is this night different from all other nights?” And so begins the family’s remembrance of all God did to save the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt.

Today we also celebrate a night different from all others. With awe and gratitude, we remember the night that Jesus entered his passion. The night he saved us from slavery to sin and death. The night he loved us “to the end” (John 13:1).

“Lord Jesus, I marvel at your humility. On this night, though your heart was heavy with the suffering to come, you didn’t think of yourself. Instead, you took on the role of a servant. You, who sustain the very universe, knelt and washed the feet of men who would betray you, deny you, and abandon you in your hour of need. You humbled yourself and showed us what it means to be great in the kingdom of God. You showed us how to love. You loved us to the end.

“Lord Jesus, I stand amazed at your generosity. On this night, knowing that you were returning to the Father, you broke bread and shared wine with your disciples. You, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, gave us your own Body and Blood in the Eucharist. You held nothing back. You gave yourself to us, a sacrifice that nourishes us and unites us to you and the Father until you come again. You loved us to the end.

“Lord Jesus, I am silenced by your obedience. On this night in Gethsemane, you prayed in agony and abandoned yourself to your Father while your disciples slept. You, who could have summoned legions of angels to save you, embraced your Father’s will to save us. You freely gave yourself into the hands of sinners, knowing that it would mean accepting death on a cross. You looked upon your betrayer, your fleeing disciples, your accusers, your torturers, as well as us. You, who never sinned, chose to offer yourself for our sins. Like a sheep to the slaughter, you loved us to the end.

“Thank you, Jesus, for loving me to the end.”

Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14
Psalm 116:12-13, 15-18
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
John 13:1-15

WORD AMONG US