A Thursday before Easter Sunday

Today, the fifth day of the Holy Week of Lenten season where Catholic Christians commemorate the initiation of the Holy Eucharist. It is also known as the celebration of the Last Supper and the Washing of the Feet as well. This is also a celebration of God's remembrance to His apostles. He initiated the sacrament of Eucharist and sacrament of priesthood - "Do this in remembrance of Me". He gave us a remembrance through breaking the bread and washing of the feet. He emphasized that a true follower and believer will do his instructions to be communion with His blood and body and washing of the feet.

Today also is the opening of the celebration of Paschal Triduum, a sacred three days which are considered as the holiest days of our Christian faith. It will end on the Easter vigil. If we have noticed that the Holy Mass today will be ended without having a sign of the cross. Tomorrow, the mass will resume having no sign of the Cross from the start because this is a three-day Holy Mass.

Last Supper

Last Supper has different common names. This is what we called "Holy Mass", "Holy Eucharist", "The Blessed Sacrament", The Body and the Blood of Christ. Every Sunday, everytime when we attend the Holy Mass, we are proclaiming His death on the Cross. The way that Jesus serves is humble and full of sacrifices. But the way we do in serving God and other people is not the same with JesusChrist's way. In the government, many politicians said that their service is for all. That is their promise while asking the votes from the people. But once they're already in their positions, only those who voted them will be served better.

Last supper is a gift given to His church. This was the first time when Jesus offered His Body and Blood to His disciples in the presence of the bread and wine. That's why everytime we receive this gift - holy eucharist in the Holy Mass, we must be an instrument of His saving act. This is the only gift given to us that brings salvation. He promised us to inherit His kingdom if we embrace and accept heartily this gift, the gift of Eucharist. A gift that will enter into our hearts and reigns over our actions. But we need also to cleanse our hearts first before receiving it through the sacrament of Confession or Reconciliation.

The Washing of the Feet

What is the purpose of Jesus why He washed the feet of His apostles? Is that His way of serving them with humility?

Jesus showed and offered us the perfect example of humility in service. Through washing the feet of His disciples, Jesus encourages us all to serve people with humble act of service. He himself is the image of selfless love. He challenged us to serve one another with humility and compassion.

The Washing of the Feet reminds us the service. This is the perfect and concrete example of humble and yet compassionate service. Actually, it is not the dirt from the feet of the disciples that Jesus wanted to clean or remove. It is the impurities and sins that stained our soul. The sins that would hinder us to go to His kingdom. He wanted us also to serve other people with cleaned hearts and peaceful minds.

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Final Thought

We, Christians are called by God to reflect and meditate in this time of Lenten season. This is the perfect time of turning back to God with repentant soul and forgiving heart. Today is the commemoration of God's saving act through His Son JesusChrist.

Islam has also time of prayer during Ramadan. It is a solemn part of their faith. We, Christians should seriously celebrate this God's selfless Love offered to us through the death of Jesus on the cross just to save us. This is not the time of shopping into malls, having fun in the beach, travelling to other places, throwing and attending different parties, going on a holiday, and attending all your vices like gambling and drinking hard liquor. Today is the time of reconciliation with your enemies including your wife or husband. Holy Week is the time to make us holy. A time for forgiving and loving our neighbors. A time of discerning our prayer to God despite of different calamities that we have encountered one of these days. A time to assess ourselves how far we are from God's presence.

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Thank you for reading!

At this moment we are preparing ourselves to attend the Triduum Mass.

Happy Maundy Thursday everyone.

God loves. Jesus saves. Holy Spirit enlightens.