“How is this night different from all other
nights?” These words were spoken last night in many Jewish homes on the night
of Passover.
The
question had a new answer this year. For the first time in many peoples lives,
they did not attend a Seder with family and friends.
The word
- Seder - means “order” – an ordered series of 15 steps – rituals, prayers,
songs and stories. At the center – the story
of the Exodus – the journey from slavery to freedom.
Our Jewish
friends will remind us that have celebrated Passover in far worse circumstances
– in the year 70, the Roman General Titus besieged Jerusalem 3 days before
Passover – it caused an epidemic and famine that killed over 1 million people.
Yet, century after century, no matter what the circumstances, they continued to
remember. Even in Auschwitz they stopped and prayed.
How is
this Holy Thursday different from all other Holy Thursdays? We watched the Holy
Father earlier today offer this Mass in an empty St. Peter’s Basilica – and he
did not go out to wash the feet of prisoners.
It is a
Holy Thursday we will never forget – but
we must remember that many of our brothers and sisters who experiencing far
worse: every day an average of 8
Christians are killed because of their faith – every week an average of 180
Christian churches or buildings are attacked – and every month an average of 300
Christians are imprisoned unjustly.
Perhaps what we are going through can be offered for them? And, of
course, for all who are suffering so much during this pandemic.
Scholars
are not sure - was Jesus celebrating the Passover, or was it the eve of the Passover
at the Last Supper? What is certain is
that He was about to BECOME THE PASSOVER – He would pass over
from death to life from the Cross to the Resurrection.
And
amazingly, the night before He died, He was thinking about us!
He spoke
of three things: Jesus gave us the gift of the Eucharist – He instituted the
Priesthood – and gave us the command to serve.
1) The Eucharist – Jesus took the Bread and
Wine – and said – This Is My Body, This is My Blood, Do this in Memory of Me. Will
we ever think of the Eucharist the same way again? Will we ever take it for
granted again? They say - Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Has it? Do we
treasure the Eucharist even more? Only time will tel, but I, for one, can’t
wait until we are together again!
2) The Priesthood – Jesus said: do this
in memory of me – yes all of us – but the priest in particular is charged with
this. To bring Jesus to the world – to be a light in darkness. I am thinking
these days of the 87 priests who have died in Italy – a good number died
because of the care they were giving their people with the virus. I am thinking
of our hospital chaplains who are putting on layers of protection and going into
rooms to give the Last Rites – at least two of our NY chaplains have the virus.
I am thinking of Msgr Richie Guastella, Pastor of St. Clare’s in SI who died at
2:00 am today – Holy Thursday – from the virus. It is a good time to pray for
priests and for vocations to the priesthood.
3) The Mandatum – washing of feet. At the
time of Jesus it was a good practice – we wash hand, they washed feet. People
came into your house with all the dirt from the street on their feet. It was
the job of the servant to wash feet. How shocking it was when Jesus bends down
to perform this task. “As I have done, you also must do!” Our culture is very
entertainment driven – heroes are actors, actresses, musicians, athletes,
internet stars. Perhaps one good thing to come out of all this – we see who the
real heroes are: regular people – doctors, nurses, emt’s, delivery drivers, postal
workers, food store workers. May God truly bless them for what they are doing
for us!
How is
this night different from all other nights? I hope and pray we will never have
another Holy Thursday like this! Never
have a Holy Thursday like this – but it is an opportunity - to see life, to see
faith, to see one another in a new way. So now - Do this in memory of Me!
