Exodus 12:1–8, 11–14; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26; John 13:1–15

Holy Thursday marks the beginning of the three-part story at the heart of our faith. The “Triduum,” (or three) moments in the central story are retold in scripture but also in our Christian liturgy. Tonight the people will gather and witness the pinnacle of Jesus’ life and self-giving death, leading to the glorious climax of Resurrection. The Triduum’s culmination is Sunday, but it all starts on Thursday.

One curious feature of tonight’s gospel is Jesus at the Last Supper. On the very night when we remember the first Eucharist, the church gives us the one gospel (St. John’s) that tells it differently. Instead of focusing on bread and wine blest and broken at the Supper, we hear of Jesus washing feet. One particular phrase invites us to understand Holy Thursday as the moment when Jesus recaps his life through his own personal action: St. John’s gospel tells us “He wrapped a towel around his waist.” In wrapping that towel, a sign of humility and servitude, Jesus wraps together the central mystery of the Eucharist with the core gospel summons to serve others. The invitation to join him is enfolded in the simple gesture of wrapping that towel.

If you can get to the Holy Thursday service, please do! It is beautiful from start to finish. But even if you cannot, please let us pray for each other that we make the connection between the gift of Eucharist and our vocation to serve others in a fractured world.

Michael Horan
Diaspora

What speaks to me about this Last Supper story? What does it tell me about Eucharist and about service? What does it call me to?

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