Holy Thursday Mass "in Cena Domini" 2011 TOLEDO
"He rose from the table, took off her clothes and taking a canvas hugged him. Poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe with the cloth that was wrapped around him "(Jn 13, 4-5)
The Evangelist John tells us in this way the gesture made by Jesus once finished the Last Supper with his apostles. The washing of the feet is located in between the institution of the Sacrament of the Eucharist - sacrifice, presence and Banquet, and the Lord's Passion, culminating in his death and resurrection.
The humble and helpful gesture of the Lord becomes for us the key to interpret the deeper meaning and mystery of the Easter events. Only in this way avoid the risk of reducing the sacred mysteries at a purely formal and ritualistic dimension.
Jesus, Eternal High Priest, opens and sets the new and everlasting covenant for the remission of sins. It really is something new that brings to fulfillment the old, infusing a new spirit, a new under and a new scope. Jesus instituted a new priesthood, not after the flesh and seed of Aaron and the tribe of Levi, but in the Spirit and the anointing of the Holy Spirit, a new cult, not ritualistic, formal and empty, but racked of worship "in spirit and in truth "that the Father wants, a new offering, no calves and goats, but the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, whose food is to do the will of Him who sent you and whose love leads him to voluntarily give himself in sacrifice of worship, praise and expiation.
The novelty of the New Covenant, sealed by the Blood of Christ and the new Act, based on love, is what the Lord wants us to understand by the gesture of the washing of the feet. Therefore, to understand both the Eucharistic mystery as the scandal of the Cross, as the new life of the Resurrection, we need to look and search depth which encloses the humble gesture of Jesus to his Apostles prostrate washing their feet.
In fact, the washing is the key to interpreting the life of Jesus, both of the Incarnation, and their words and teachings, and its messianic mission. It helps us to place ourselves before the mystery of his person: "Who, having the nature of God was not by usurpation, to be equal with God. And yet, emptied into the shape of a slave and becoming like other men, and reduced to the condition of man. He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death on the cross. " He is the Son of God, humble and down next to get from our prostration and unexpected rise to a category: the category of sonship!
All his message and his teachings are directed to the announcement and establishment of new law whose source is at the heart of God the Father of goodness and mercy, and whose foundation is the key of love lived in service to others, delivery and his own life, compassion for the suffering and forgiveness without limits on whom we have offended.
And his messianic mission is illuminated by the gesture of the washing, showing the identification between the teacher kneeling on the ground that washes the feet of his Apostles, and the Servant of Yahweh prophesied by Isaiah: "This is my servant whom uphold, my chosen one in whom I am well pleased. I have put my spirit upon him, he will bring salvation to the nations. Do not cry, do not raise your voice, not the streets voceará; not break the bruised reed nor quench the wick is extinguished. Faithfully proclaim salvation, and not faint nor be discouraged to introduce it into the ground. Distant peoples yearn for his teaching "(Is 42, 1-4).
is from this perspective as we get closer and put ourselves before the mystery of the gifts the Lord gives us the evening of Holy Thursday.
The gift of the Eucharist, the memorial of the Lord's death: "On the cross was hidden only divinity, but humanity is hidden here: I believe and confess and I both asked what the repentant thief. I do not see the wounds as was Thomas, but I think you are my God, make me believe more and more in you, who trust in you, love you "(Adoro Te Devote)
The gift of the Eucharist, "the living bread that gives life to the man, give him my soul that You live, and always taste your sweetness" (Adoro Te Devote)
The gift of the Catholic priesthood, ministerial service the brethren in persona Christi capitis, in the name of Christ the Head of his Body, "" Do you understand what I've done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so, because I am. For if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each foot. "
The gift of the new mandate, the Law of the eternal Covenant in the Blood of Christ: "A new commandment I give unto you that ye love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another "(Jn 13, 34)
If the washing of the feet gives us the key that helps us interpret the Person and mission of the Savior, the force will be a mirror in which we should look at us and constantly inspiring and followers of Christ if we truly want to be salt of the earth and light of the world. Only thus ward off the danger of turning our faith into an ideology among many others. Only then we will free fall into the temptation to reduce life and be a Christian in a formalism cold, dry and disembodied. Only thus can we keep in the spirit of Our Lord Jesus Christ doing this in the midst of the world their lifestyle.
What really defines is solely and exclusively Christian love: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all thy mind. This is the greatest and first commandment "(Mt 22, 337-38).
"By this all that you are my disciples, if ye have love for one another" (Jn 13, 35).
"Everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He that loveth not knoweth not God, because God is love "(1 John 4, 7-8).
This is the lifestyle followed by Christ to his last consequences and that is constantly proposed to his followers: "If any of you want to be great must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be servant of all, since even the Son of Man has come to be served but to serve and give His life a ransom for many "(Mk 10: 43-45)
not given to us, nor do we need, another reference to examine ourselves and see if we are truly followers of Christ, not only in word but in deed. This confirmation is uncertain about whether the life of Christ in our heart overflows, or otherwise still remain in spiritual death, eternal death prelude: "We know that have been transferred from death to life because we love the brethren. He who does not love remains in death. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life itself "(1 Jn 3, 14-15)
Mary, ever virgin, Servant and Servant of the Lord, lead us towards Son of the way of love and delivery: cross road, but safe path leading to the light and glory.
* P. Manuel Maria de Jesus
Fraternity of Christ the priest and Santa Maria Reina
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