I’m sure many people would say that the next three days are some of the most
wonderful in the whole of the Church’s year, as we move from the Upper
Room to the Garden of Gethsemane, then follow Christ to His crucifixion on
Golgotha, His burial, and finally His Resurrection from the tomb. Tonight we
have part one of the trilogy, if you like, and there is the tension and the drama:
the example of service with the Washing of the Feet and the message of service,
the joy of the institution of the Eucharist, and with it, the priesthood, all that is
to come in the Garden and subsequently; and we also have the presence there
of the one who is to betray Him, at present unknown to the other Eleven, but
known to the Lord.
“Jesus knew that the Father had put everything into his hands” - Knowing that
the scene is now set, everything now begins and unfolds. And tonight we not
only celebrate the Eucharist, but also live liturgically the other moments too –
the Washing of the Feet and also the journey from the Upper Room to the
Garden of Gethsemane, where we are asked to watch and pray, lest we fall into
temptation, for the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Tonight’s celebration
is how we time travel and take part in those original events. When the Jews
celebrated the Passover, the idea of doing something “in memory” didn’t just
mean remembering in the head what happened all that time ago – they believed
they were actually taking part spiritually in the original event. The Church
teaches something similar: that when we celebrate the Eucharist, we are taken
back to that first celebration, as well as to the Cross and the Empty Tomb – but
more about that later.
First, the Washing of the Feet. To do what Jesus did was normally the job of a
slave. When we celebrate it liturgically in church, people have normally
washed their feet recently, but in days gone by it was a practical thing: after
walking for ages in the dust and dirt, that dust, dirt and sweat needed washing
off, and cool water was a relief. Our Lord tells them, firstly: “You call me
Master and Lord, and rightly; so I am”, so first He affirms His place as the One
in charge, to whom obedience is owed. So now we must do what He tells us:
“If I, then, the Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you should wash each
other’s feet”. Not just in the sense of repeat this action once a year on Maundy
Thursday, but to follow His example of service, and not to think that certain
things are beneath you, no matter who you are. I remember one book I read,
although I can’t remember where I read it, that said you are only really fully a
Parish Priest when you are having to clean out the toilets.
Next, the Eucharist. Luke 22:15: “I have longed to eat this Passover with you
before I suffer”, or as another translation puts it: “I have earnestly desired to
eat this passover with you before I suffer”. It was the deep desire of Our Lord’s
Heart to give Himself to us in the Eucharist, that we might be united with Him
in a union that is like a marriage, two hearts united together. How great is His
joy when we respond! And how great is His sorrow when we refuse or put
obstacles in the way, or our hearts are not completely His. In the first reading,
it began with: “This month is to be the first of all the others for you”, in other
words, it was talking about the beginning of something new when the Passover
came into being. Now with the Eucharist, we have a new covenant, and a new
beginning again. All is again made new.
In the Eucharist, Christ gives of Himself. When He says, this is my Body
which is given for you, and this is my Blood which is poured out for you, He
could also be referring to His Crucifixion, and in fact He is. The Eucharist
joins us to His Sacrifice, and that is why the ones that celebrate it are called
priests. So, logically, bringing the Eucharist into being, He had to also bring
the priesthood into being. Being a priest is also a way in which Christ makes
Himself present in the world of today, as men through ordination become
“other Christs”, enabling celebration of the Eucharist and Christ to be present
in the tabernacles across the world.
Tonight, the tabernacle is empty. There was no reserved sacrament when the
first Mass was celebrated. We then process with the Lord to the altar of repose
in the hall, recalling Christ’s journey from the Upper Room to Gethsemane. In
the Middle Ages they also had the practice in this country of setting up what
was called an Easter sepulchre in the church, where the Blessed Sacrament was
“buried”, if you like, and then rose at Morning Prayer on Easter Sunday. If you
go to, or visit via the internet, the Catholic church of St Giles’ in Cheadle,
Staffordshire, they have a part of the church that was designed for that
ceremony.
Tonight, then, we enter deeply, with the eyes of faith, into all that the next three
days will bring. We enter into the hearts of Christ, His Apostles, and His
disciples; and these events from two thousand years ago become real again
once more.
Curious about exploring things further? If you would like to ask further questions about the topics raised in these homilies (or maybe think it wasn’t explained too well!), please feel free to e-mail Fr Michael at stjoseph.thame@rcaob.org.uk