HOLY THURSDAY 1998

Our first reading this evening, from Exodus 12:1-8,11-14, tells the story of God's instructions to Moses and Aaron for celebrating the Passover Of the Lord. This is a story of joyful rescue, redemption, liberation and freedom -- certainly a lot to celebrate.

The Israelites had suffered long enough ---- captured from their homeland, deported to a foreign land, forced into slavery, this people lost their homes, their families, customs, traditions and freedom.

This is also our story.

Our world still engages in the capture, deportation and forced slavery of peoples. But this is the passover of the Lord. Rescue; redemption, liberation and freedom are God's gift to all people. This is a day to remember throughout the generations. As we begin this evening our celebration of the most sacred tridum or Three Days, we celebrate the joy of our freedom as daughters and sons of God.

What better expresses rescue, redemption, liberation and freedom than the Holy Eucharist, this wonderful and marvelous gift which is first described for us in Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians which we read just moments ago. (1 Cor. 11:23-26). As often as we break bread we proclaim the Passover of the Lord--God's deliverance of us thru his Son Jesus -- his great service.

Eucharist includes our acts of loving service -- just as Christ served the needs of others and washed the feet of his disciples, a previous act of wonderful service just prior to his great and mysterious act of dying for us.

The gospel reading (John 12:1-5) may be looked on as the heart of our celebration of the Liturgy of the word this evening, though we are primarily celebrating the great gift of the Holy Eucharist. We want to emphasize both actions of Jesus, but there is a value in focusing on Jesus' act of washing the feet of his disciples, at least for a few minutes.

When Mark and Matthew and Luke tell the tory of the Last Supper, they tell a story from our second reading. But when John writes his tells the story of Christ washing the feet of the final challenge:

"So, if I,your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have set you an example that you also should do as I have done to you."

This is a gospel injunction of great import.

God's rescue, redemption, liberation and freedom are accomplished today, in our own time, as we love and serve one another. This is our story; this is our ministry -- washing one another's feet.

We do that in the many ways in which we minister to one another on a personal basis, one to one, or in community, one to many, or in ministry, one and many to so many others; by our ministry of education, by our ministry of preaching and teaching, by our ministry to the sick, to the oppressed, to those discriminated against, to those bound by poverty, to those who hunger for comfort and consolation, even if that be just by a word or two of encouragement from us.

In all these expression of charity we express or give meaning to our call to wash one another's feet By all these ministries and ministrations we reveal the true nature of christian love and discipleship

So are we challenged this evening! So let us resolve this evening!