THE EUCHARIST: APPRECIATION OF GOD
THROUGH SERVICE
image from: The Last Supper | Sophia Institute for Teachers
(John 13:1-15)
Today is the birthday of two holy
inseparable twins namely the Eucharist and the ministerial Priesthood. Eucharist is the Greek word for thanksgiving.
This is demonstrated in what Jesus did at the Last supper when He took the
bread and chalice and gave thanks (As recorded in 1Cor 11:23-26). In
celebrating it, St Paul urges us to proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.
In the Eucharist we give God thanks for loving the world to the end and sacrificing
His life on the cross for man. We give God thanks for leaving Himself for us as
food to be eaten. We give thanks for communion with God and are challenged to
enter into communion with each other in pure love. Thus, it is not just about
eating and drinking but living and making the eternal sacrifice perfected on
the altar of the Cross renewed from generation to generation, for ages unending
to eternity.
For this reason, Jesus ordained
and commissioned His apostles. He teaches them how to perpetuate this Great Sacrament,
through service and love. That is why He came down from the table to wash their
feet. Peter refused but Jesus insisted. This washing of feet became very
important in the celebration of today.
MESSAGE
LET US COME DOWN
Let us leave our ivory towers and
come down. Jesus the High Priest of the New Covenant came down, who are we not
to bring ourselves down? We should be humble. This is a good way of
appreciating the Eucharistic Jesus. Let the celebrating priest also remember
that He is called to serve the people. Let all of us sharing in the common
priesthood of the faithful be ready to serve one another and not always
desiring to be served. Christ came down and gave His life for many. How many
people have we given our lives for? Come down dear.
RESPECT EACH OTHER
To wash the feet, one must kneel.
Kneeling denotes reverence and respect. Just as the bell invites us to kneel
when the Blessed Sacrament is being carried from one place to the other, let us
revere each other for the Christ in them. By doing this we are saying thank you
to the Eucharistic Jesus.
BE PURIFIED
The Eucharist purifies our hearts
of sin and prepares it for the journey to eternity. Let us get purified through
the Holy Eucharist. Let us help one another to get purified. Let's encourage
each other to journey on. Let us serve them in holiness, give them peace, share
our understanding and good words with them. Let us, like Abraham who washed the
feet of the traveling strangers, offer a hospitable hand of purification to one
another as we make our way to heaven. When we do this God with be glorified and
appreciated.
LET'S BE OPEN TO RECEIVE
A good number of people are not
open just like Peter who initially refused to accept the service of Christ.
Are you open to the service of
the priests of God trying to reconcile you with God? Do you hear Jesus when He
tells you if I do not wash you, you have no part in me? Receive the washing at the confessional,
receive the washing hand of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist and reply Amen.
LET US PRAY
Thank You Jesus for calling us to
share in Your supper, a memorial of your Passion. Help us to ever live in
appreciation for the gift You have bestowed on us in this Sacrament. Bless Your
priests who perpetuate this Thanksgiving Celebration. Bless us and grant that
we may have a share in You now and in eternity through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Have a fulfilled Holy Thursday
Celebration.
Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh
.jpg)
No comments:
Post a Comment