09/04/2020
Today we come into a deeper and more meaningful meditation and contemplation of the paschal mystery of our Lord Jesus Christ, His passion, death, and resurrection. Today, we reflect on as we commemorate the Lord's Supper and Jesus washing His apostle's feet wherein during which moment our Lord instituted two important Sacraments: the sacraments of the Holy Eucharist and Holy Order.
It was during the Lord's supper that Jesus has given Himself, His own Body and Blood, to us in the Eucharist. And as we celebrate the Holy Eucharist, it becomes a living memorial and expression of Jesus' passion, death and resurrection; and of His Real Presence in the bread and wine which becomes His own Body and Blood ("This is my body; this is my blood") and made holy through the power of the Holy Spirit. As Catholics, we do not only celebrate the Holy Eucharist but we, more importantly, receive Christ who has given Himself for the life of the world. And as we partake of the bread and wine, we become what we believe in - the Body of Christ.
It was also during the Lord's supper that Jesus has given the sacred order and power to His apostles to celebrate and offer the Holy Eucharist in living memory of His passion, death, and resurrection as He said, "Do this in memory of me.". Through the sacrament of the Holy Orders, the mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time: thus, it is a sacrament of apostolic ministry.
Nevertheless, Jesus' washing of His apostle's feet invites us to take heed of His commandment of love as the very act of selfless giving: that of loving one another as He loved us. We are not only invited but even called to live a life of humble and loving service and follow Jesus' example of servant-leadership.
Prayer:
Loving and merciful Father, You sent Your Only Begotten Son to save and redeem us from the bo***ge of sin and death. We beseech and humbly ask You to protect and deliver all of us from all evil, from all danger and harm especially from the dreadful threat of the COVID-19, pandemic. Send forth the Holy Spirit to give us courage, strength, hope; and to deepen our faith in Jesus who is our Lord and Savior. Grant us lastly, the grace to be converted, renewed and transformed by the mystery of Christ's Passion, Death and Resurrection. This we ask through Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, and through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, our Mother. Amen
Rev. Fr. Vincent O. Liwag, OSA
University of San Agustin, Iloilo City
Photo by: Strobist