The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45)  Yes, God is serving humans!  That is Jesus Christ.  Our Lord wanted this message to be clear to his disciples.  Therefore, at the Last Supper, he washed the feet of his disciples.  Then Jesus said, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am.  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 (John 13:12-15).  As we have started the Easter Triduum, let us be mindful of our duty to be at the service of others. In a situation like now, while the world is in the grip of corona virus, there are so many human needs to be attended to urgently.  Think always, what role can I play to help?

Another important action of Jesus we associate with the Last Supper is the Breaking of Bread.  Jesus took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19). This command of Jesus to break bread in his memory was taken up by the early Church. When they shared the blessed bread and blessed cup of wine among them, they knew they were becoming part of the Body of Christ. Therefore, they called it the Holy Communion with the Lord.  This practice of joining the Body of Christ through the participation in the blessed bread and wine has been continued ever since then. Such gatherings of the faithful to make Communion with the Lord eventually got a name, CHURCH.  Thus, Holy Thursday is the celebration of the foundation of the Church which is Eucharist, and the character of Church which is service.  Unlike normal times, we are doing it as a un-gathered Church tonight. There were other times in history when the Church could not gather around the Eucharistic table.  Those times turned out to be the time of greater resolve and strengthening for the faithful.  So will it be, too for believers now.

I pray that this time may strengthen your spiritual Communion with the Lord so that when COVID19 restrictions are over, you will represent a shining Body of Christ with all its hope and joy.