Daily Lenten Reflections

Thursday, April 6, 2023

Holy Thursday

Reflection

John's gospel account of the Last Supper is both puzzling and revealing. It's puzzling because John doesn't include the words of consecration in Paul or the Synoptic gospels. In John's narrative, Jesus washes his disciples' feet. Jesus gives his body and pours out his blood for us through his action and service. By his action, Jesus says, here I am as your servant, do this in my memory. So, what are we to do in Jesus' memory? Serve one another; love one another.

Jesus shows the extent of his love by washing his disciples' feet. A household's lowliest servant usually performed this act of cleansing, service, and intimacy. Jesus does not focus on Judas, his betrayer. Instead, his focus is on loving his friends.

Holy Thursday, sometimes called Maundy Thursday, comes from the Latin word mandatum, meaning mandate or commandment. Jesus' ritual gives us a mandate. "Love one another as I have loved you." Jesus poured out his life in unselfish, sacrificial love throughout John's gospel. Now, he calls us to pour out our lives in unselfish, sacrificial love for others.

Prayer

As you, O Lord, gave your Body and Blood by washing the disciples’ feet, lead and guide us in ways that fulfill your mandate to love one another. Help us to pour out our lives in unselfish, sacrificial love. Amen.

Fr. Richard M. Myhalyk, S.S.E., ‘66

Scripture

First Reading: Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14

Psalm 116:12-13, 15-16bc, 17-18

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Gospel: John 13:1-15

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website

Mission of Edmundite Campus Ministry

The Mission of Edmundite Campus Ministry at Saint Michael’s College is to share the Good News of the Gospel with the College community by facilitating encounter with Jesus Christ. We do this through the celebration of the Church’s Liturgy, in programs promoting knowledge of the Catholic faith, by developing ecumenical and interreligious relationships, and providing retreats and other opportunities for personal spiritual growth.

The Catholic and Edmundite tradition upon which the College was founded is grounded in the conviction that all women and men are created in the image and likeness of God providing a special dignity unique to each person. Such dignity requires human life to be respected in all of its stages recognizing that we are all children of God.

Therefore, in its pursuit of furthering the Reign of God, the Edmundite Campus Ministry staff seeks to interact with and support every member of the College community in their search for Truth, contributing to the “enhancement of the human person and to the advancement of human culture in light of the Catholic faith.”