Maundy Thursday

Passover is celebrated in the month of Abib or Aviv of the Hebrew calendar. It falls between the last two weeks of March or the first two weeks of April of the Gregorian calendar. Abib literally means barley. Or ripening barley. Passover commemorates the great Jewish leader Moses liberating the children of Israel from slavery in Egypt. To commemorate that great event every year during the month of Aviv the children of Israel -- this small community of people chosen by God who underwent great travails through terrifying wilderness regions to reach the land promised by God celebrated their miraculous escape from Egypt. They may have celebrated Passover while they journeyed through the wilderness and after they settled in Canaan. Where do you want us to celebrate Passover with you? The disciples asked Jesus, 2000 years ago. "Go into the city where you will meet a certain man and tell him the master says my time is at hand and I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples, Jesus said. The disciples may have been used to such words from Jesus. Enigmatic and mysterious. The disciples did as Jesus directed them and they prepared Passover. When it was evening Jesus reclined at table with His disciples. .......

. The most important event of that Passover evening is the institution of the Lord's supper. Something all Catholics partake of in every mass and Christians in church services celebrate on Sundays. That of the eucharist. Jesus takes bread, breaks the bread and gives it to His disciples saying take eat, this is my body. Then Jesus took a cup, when He had given Thanks he gave it to them saying drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. But this was no ordinary Passover. It was the last Passover before Jesus was crucified. And it became the symbol of the new covenant. During this Passover Jesus proclaimed that the bread they were eating was the body of Jesus. The cup they drank from was the cup of the covenant. The cup of wine is poured out for many. Although this is familiar it is difficult to understand. During the first Passover in Egypt the children of Israel actually roasted a lamb and made bread without leaven. If leaven means sin then in the new covenant Jesus became the bread without sin which means Jesus never sinned. We are to celebrate the new Passover supper in remembrance of Jesus sacrifice for us. Jesus tells the disciples, do this in remembrance of me. It is only the gospel of John that describes something else that Jesus did on that Passover when the Lord's supper is instituted. It is the Christ washing the feet of His disciples. Jesus ties a towel around His waist and goes around the room washing the feet of each disciple. This is a sign of humility. Of servant leadership. Jesus is our gentle God. After washing the feet of the disciples Jesus explains His actions. Do you understand what I have done to you? Jesus asks His disciples. You call me Teacher and Lord and so I am, Jesus said. If I then your Lord and Teacher have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. Jesus actions are an example to us. We are to do to our fellow human beings just as Jesus has done to us. If we know the commandments of Jesus blessed are we when we do according to the commandments. Whoever received the one I send receives me and whoever received me received one who send me. Then Jesus tells them something else. Jesus said He would like to give a new commandment to the disciples. The new commandment is to love one another. If we love others we are able to keep all the other ten commandments. Just as Jesus loved the disciples we are to love others. Others will know that we are the disciples of Jesus when we love others. When Jesus was born in Bethlehem a sign was given to the shepherds watching over their flock. The sign was to find a baby in a stable. A sign is an indication that signifies something else. The sign to the shepherds was to find a baby in a stable, an unlikely place to find a baby. If others are to know we are true disciples of Jesus there is a sign. That is the sign of love. People who are able to love others are true disciples of Jesus. Jesus said this is the sign that accompanies a person who truly obeys Jesus.