Sermon For Holy Thursday 2001

Isn’t it wonderful that the twenty-four crew members who were detained in China have returned? What a reunion they will have with their families. I see this special night as a gathering of family. Everyone is here because they want to be here. We are bonded together by the Holy Spirit and we celebrate that tonight.

What makes this night different from other nights? That question echoed on Monday night throughout the world as Jewish families celebrated Passover.

What makes this night special for us? In the beginning of Mass the sacred Oil of Chrism was brought into the church and placed in its special place of honor near the baptismal font. The Greek and Russian Orthodox Churches who celebrate Holy Week on this very week with us see Chrism as a special presence of the Holy Spirit.

This oil was poured over us in our baptism and in our confirmation. Fr. Nick and I received this oil on our hands when we were ordained priests. The Holy Spirit consecrated us to be the Church. The Holy Spirit consecrated us into the work of the Church which we call by the word ministry.

Tonight is not repeating what happened on that first Holy Thursday night. That took place two thousand years ago. Tonight is about being Church as Jesus taught us.

Tonight is about washing one another’s feet. It’s uncomfortable to wash another foot or to have one’s own foot washed. It’s embarrassing. It takes courage. That’s the kind of love that we are called to give one another. It’s a love that forgets oneself and builds the other person up.

Tonight Jesus gives us his body and blood in the Eucharist. We become what we eat. Receiving the Body and Blood of the Lord makes us the Body of Christ, the Church.

Tonight is the night when we are taught that we share love with all people. However, we have been consecrated and we have been fed to love other members of the Body of Christ with a special love. It’s a kind of love that we saw on the parents’ faces when they saw their sons and daughters come off the plane this afternoon. It’s the love of belonging. It’s the love of God’s Family, the Church.

At the end of the Mass the Eucharist will be brought to the side altar for our adoration. I invite you to spend some time in prayer to let all that Jesus wants to give to us sink in. I ask yu to leave the church in complete silence. So much will be said and given tonight. Let us give one another the gift of silence to digest how this night is different from other nights.