Gospel: March 28, 2024
(Thursday)
Holy Thursday of the Lord’s Supper
At evening, begin Easter Triduum of the Lord’s Passion, Death and Resurrection
Psalter: Proper / (White)
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 116: 12-13, 15-16bc, 17-18
Our blessing-cup is a communion with the Blood of Christ.
Chrism Mass:1st Reading: Isaiah 61: 1-3a, 6a, 8b-9
Ps 89: 21-22, 25,27
Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
2nd Reading: Revelation 1: 5-8
Gospel: Luke 4: 16-21
Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper:1st Reading: Exodus 12: 1-8, 11-14
2nd Reading: 1 Corithians 11: 23-26
Gospel: John 13: 1-15It was before the feast of the Passover. Jesus realized that his hour had come, to pass from this world to the Father; and as he had loved those who were his own in the world, he would love them with perfect love.
They were at supper, and the devil had already put into the mind of Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray him. Jesus knew that the Father had entrusted all things to him, and as he had come from God, he was going to God. So he got up from the table, removed his garment, and taking a towel, wrapped it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel he was wearing.
When he came to Simon Peter, Simon asked him, “Why, Lord, do you want to wash my feet?” Jesus said, “What I am doing you cannot understand now, but afterward you will understand it.” Peter replied, “You shall never wash my feet!”
Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you can have no part with me.” Then Simon Peter said, “Lord, wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head!” Jesus replied, “Whoever has taken a bath does not need to wash (except the feet), for he is clean all over. You are clean, though not all of you.” Jesus knew who was to betray him; because of this he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
When Jesus had finished washing their feet, he put on his garment again, went back to the table, and said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Master and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I, then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you also must wash one another’s feet. I have given you an example, that as I have done, you also may do.
Reflection:“Love mandate”
Today is Holy Thursday, also known as Maundy Thursday. Maundy comes from the Latin word mandatum which means “commandment.” Today, we ponder on Jesus’ new commandment which is love mandate. As Christians, we are mandated that we love one another as Jesus has loved us. And now, we are reminded of Jesus’ words when he said that there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for others (cf. Jn. 15:13). Hence, Jesus has set an example not merely to dramatize the event of the feet-washing but to truly live up to the challenge of laying down our lives for one another. The putting off and putting on of Jesus’ garment also symbolizes the giving up and taking up of Jesus’ life. No one can take Jesus’ life away from him but he can give it up. It is a decision. As we enter the Paschal Triduum, let us recommit ourselves to making decisions as our concrete responses to Jesus’ mandate.
