THE LEGACY OF THE EUCHARIST

HOMILY FOR MAUNDY THURSDAY (MASS OF THE LORD’S SUPPER)

Rev. Fr. Ezekoka Peter Onyekachi

Today, we begin the Paschal Triduum -the highest point of our Christian mystery and faith. The Triduum begins with the evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper and reaches its culmination in the Easter vigil, as it closes with the evening prayer of Easter Sunday. Today is known as Maundy Thursday, and as a day in the Holy week, it is also called Holy Thursday. The Holy mass this evening is celebrated to commemorate the Lord’s Supper. In it are two important replays. Firstly, it commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus with the disciples, during which there was the institution of the Holy Eucharist, and was then accompanied by those gracious and compelling words: Do this in memory of me. (This forms the background of the Chrism Mass celebration wherein the Bishop blesses the oils of the sick, of Catechumen and of the Chrism, and wherein there is a renewal of the priestly promises. The Chrism Mass is actually a Holy Mass that celebrates the institution of the sacrament of Holy Orders which is the twin sacrament of the Eucharist.) The Chrism Mass celebrates the Priesthood as the evening Mass celebrates the Eucharist; both are inseparably united.

Secondly, it is a liturgical replay of the event of the washing of the feet where Jesus showed the Eucharist and the Holy Orders as sacraments of service and ministration. The priest then is the servant (i.e minister) of the Eucharist as the latter becomes the unction for the priestly ministration. After the washing of feet, Jesus concluded with again those gracious and compelling words: you ought to wash each other’s feet. The actions of Christ on this day all ended with some compelling words; in fact a sort of command to the disciples to prolong the act. Little wonder then ‘Maundy’ as a word is derived from the Latin word for ‘command.’ Hence, Maundy Thursday reminds us of the command of Jesus to prolong his life of sacrifice and service in the Eucharist. Unlike the Synoptic gospel writers, the Gospel of John has no account of the Last Supper. But we cannot because of this absence say that the Institution of the Eucharist on this day has no popular attestation. The absence of the last supper in that gospel is replaced with the Eucharistic gesture of washing of the feet, which opens our minds on how the Eucharist ought to transform our lives towards humility and service.

1. The Gospel (John 13:1-15) concludes with these words: for I have given you an example that you also should do as I have done to you. In the Eucharist, Jesus offers Himself. In the washing of the feet, Jesus shows us the importance of service and humility. So the Eucharist is a call on all Christians to offer the self for the sake of others, as the washing of the feet is a call on all Christians to offer the self in service. Through the act of washing the feet of his disciples, Jesus leaves for us an example as well as a principle which we are meant to live out. And this principle is that of love, service and sacrifice. In the Eucharist are all these principles. This is the legacy Jesus has left for us: love, service and sacrifice. This is evident in the readings of today. The First Reading (Exod. 12:1-18.11-14) is a prefiguration of the memorandum of the Eucharist in the New Testament. The injunction, this day shall be a memorial day and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord connects to the Second Reading’s (2 Cor. 11:23-26) do this in memory of me. All the three are in the form of command; a eucharistic command that is very significant for every generation. It is a command to maintain the legacy of the Eucharist.

2. God wants us to maintain the legacy of his love for us. In Jesus, we meet that supreme legacy which has lasted for thousands of years. Are we not then bound as Christians to extend this legacy? The action of the master is an example of humility, condescension, and love; would it not be nice to allow these virtues to manifest in our life? The legacy Jesus has left for us is indeed super!!! Perhaps at this point, the questions that we may be happy to ask ourselves are: What legacy am I to leave for the future; for humanity? For what will I be remembered after I have passed on? Can anyone be keen to maintain or to live out that which I regard now as my future legacy? It is indeed true that most people work so hard to be remembered for things that pass away, while neglecting those virtues that really make us humans. Remember, it is when we have lived well that we can, like Jesus unequivocally tell those behind us to do something in memory of us and to make sure the legacy we fought for is maintained. However, it must all boil down to love, service and sacrifice.

3. Everyone would desire to be remembered after death. We do not want our struggles to be in vain. There was this story of a dying man who was on his deathbed. Numerous people were present to lead him home gently. But when He looked up gently and thinking that all his employees were present unconsciously asked: why are all of you here? Who is then taking care of the company? This is how human beings may want their efforts not to pass on with them, but to pass on into others. It would indeed be very nice if we decide today to work so as to pass on virtues and ideologies that will shape the future of our society and our children in righteousness and peace. We need to experience the contentment that ought to come with the death of Christ’s followers: having suffered with Him, we shall also reign with him (2 Tim 2:12).

4. We are left to imagine the life replays and memories that go with the last minutes of one’s earthly life. These replays and memories ought to be accompanied with some feeling of contentment and peace. What guarantees this is the amount of lives we have been able to touch positively. It is now time to start touching lives positively. Jesus lived well, touched many lives, and encouraged his disciples and us to continue with this loveliest of all legacies he has left: do this in memory of me. In the Eucharist is great power. He knows that in this legacy is power, and living our lives by this instruction gives us the same courage and equanimity with which Christ embraced death. Is it not true that the way we live now may have to confront us during our last minutes? May the Last supper of Christ be our consolation and strength. Amen. Yes, we shall continue to do it in memory of Him. God bless you.