HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF THE LORD’S SUPPER (MAUNDY THURSDAY). 01.04,2021

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The Lord's Supper
Readings: Exodus 12:1-8.11-14; Psalm 116; 1Corinthians 1123-26 and John 13:1-15. 


WHY DO JEWS RETURNS HOME FOR THE PASSOVER? 

 

The journey we began on Ash Wednesday is gradually coming to its climax as we begin the paschal Triduum tonight. The Triduum is a long liturgical celebration that last for three days, beginning with the Last Supper, which has three dimensions: the institution of the Eucharist; institution of the Sacred Priesthood and promulgation of the new commandment to love. The Triduum continues tomorrow with the passion of the Lord and veneration of the cross. Finally, it comes to its climax with the Easter vigil, the night when Christ the light will break through darkness.

 

The Last Supper was celebrated in the context of the Jewish Passover meal and tonight’s first reading explains the meaning of this feast. It recalls the greatest saving act of God in the Old Testament, the exodus from Egypt, setting God’s people free from slavery. This story of the Passover and the unleavened bread tells us God is ever ready to save his people. These two feasts are ways of celebrating the liberation of the people of Israel from the Egyptians. In the time of Christ, every Israelite in diaspora returns home for this feast to offer sacrifices, in memorial of the saving work of God.

 

This saving work of God is evident in the Gospel through the person of Christ. His passion, death, burial and resurrection were a new ‘exodus’, forming a new covenant between God and humanity. As we see in the first reading, “The lamb for the Passover shall be without blemish…” In Jn 1:19, Christ was addressed as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Invariably, the last supper with his disciples anticipates Christ’s sacrifice on the cross as he gave himself under the sign of bread and wine in an unbloody manner at the table with the commandment to “Do this in memory of me.”

 

By this mandate, Christ instituted the priesthood to continue the celebration of the Eucharist until he comes again. This is what St. Paul affirms in the second reading “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the chalice, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” This day the lay faithful are encouraged to pray for their priests as we keep offering ourselves for the service of God’s people, that we will be good shepherds to the flocks entrusted to us, ready to identify with our sheep and to sacrifice our time, talents and treasures for them.

 

To my brother priests, happy feast day!

Fr. Ken Dogbo, OSJ

Location: Itori, Nigeria

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