Daily Thoughts - Holy Thursday.
The Supper of the Lord. It is the night before the slaughter of the Spotless Lamb. It is a celebration of salvation, a remembrance of what God is doing for His people. Jesus's heart is weighing heavy with all that is going on, the betrayal of a friend, Judas, the denial of Peter, the sins of the world, you and I. He is celebrating the Pascal feast and preparing for the new covenant.
"Your lamb must be a year-old male and without blemish. You may take it from either the sheep or the goats. You will keep it until the fourteenth day of this month, and then, with the whole community of Israel assembled, it will be slaughtered during the evening twilight. They will take some of its blood and apply it to the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. They will consume its meat that same night, eating it roasted with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.
But for you the blood will mark the houses where you are. Seeing the blood, I will pass over you; thereby, when I strike the land of Egypt, no destructive blow will come upon you. This day will be a day of remembrance for you, which your future generations will celebrate with pilgrimage to the Lord; you will celebrate it as a statute forever." Exodus 12:5-8, 13-14
Do you believe in the Passover feast? How the blood of the lamb marked the doorposts and passed over the house and all inside were saved. "They will consume its meat". It is a day of remembrance to be celebrated with future generations.
As you contemplate the last supper of Jesus consider His words as He lifted up the bread and the wine. "Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me." And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you. The Betrayal Foretold." Luke 22:19-20
Back to the betrayal of a friend and the denial of Peter. Do you believe in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass? Jesus died on the cross and gives us His flesh to eat and His blood to drink. These are hard words to comprehend but they are so much more than words.
It is a blessing to receive the spotless lamb at mass and receive Him into our hearts. There is a peace knowing that God resides inside that words can not convey. "Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you." John 6:53
May you realize and experience the gift that God gives us at every celebration of the mass.
Dear Father, You have given us everything and yet we still have doubts and unbelief. I see You looking into our eyes as we come before You. May we recognize the gaze as You forgave Peter for denying You and pick up our cross. Bless this day Lord Jesus and thank You for being our sacrificial offering for our sins. May our love for You grow deeper. Amen.
Mary, Mother of Love, Pray for us.
St Joesph, Head of the Holy Family, Pray for us.
St Ignatius, Pray for us.
St Patrick, Pray for us.
Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4b
No comments:
Post a Comment