Holy Week Three - VENGEANCE - 2020

Even though in recent years attendance at the Holy Thursday Mass has been in decline, for many I am sure they will feel the loss of this Holy day. With the beautiful interiors of our churches surrounding the beautifully appointed sanctuaries wherein stands the Table of the Lord to edify us, and with the sounds of the many voices of the liturgy our spirits could not but be lifted up. But not this year. With only our contemplation to assist us we can ask the Holy Spirit to carry us back to that first Holy Thursday. What we see surrounding that simple room is a picture dramatically different than how we might imagine it. Satan is gathering his forces for his last opportunity to destroy Jesus and his little flock. The HOUR is upon them but for this small group surrounding Jesus at table the monumental significance of these events now unfolding is hidden. Perhaps it can be said of us also that when we gather for the celebration of Holy Mass we too fail to appreciate the fullness of the great Mystery in which we are about to participate. In the Sacred Liturgy we transcend time and space. We are transported as it were into the time and place of that first Mass. There is only one supper of the Lord, the is only one Death on the Cross, there is only one glorious Resurrection to eternal life. Soon this celebrating and now sleepy group of men will find themselves thrust into the infuneral of Satan's vengeance against their Master. Let us not come the Mass to escape from our own trials by surrounding ourselves in the edifice of beautiful sights and sounds. We do come to be consoled and we will be. Rather let us come to partake of the Food of the Table set before us by Jesus. This food transforms us and empowers us to become one with Jesus in His passion and death so that we may be able to conquer Satan in all his attempts to destroy us. St. Paul lays this out so well for us in his letter to the Philippians. "I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead." Phil. 3:6 We may not be able to be edified by participating this beautiful Holy Thursday liturgy, but the Holy Spirit can take us through prayer and contemplation to be lifted up into Christ's consoling grace. Let us take up chapter 13 of John's gospel, from which the gospel reading for today's Mass is take and enter into the Mystery. The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no share with me." So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, "Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me." So, after receiving the piece of bread, Judas immediately went out. And it was NIGHT. I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for me? Very truly, I tell you, before the cock crows, you will have denied me three times.

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