Bible Study, Prayer, and Homily Resources
by Fr. Tommy Lane
Our celebration tonight is very joyful. We remember Jesus giving us his Body and Blood in the Eucharist during the Last Supper and giving us the priesthood during the Last Supper so that we can continue to have Jesus present in the Eucharist.
The first reading (Ex 12:1-8, 11-14) is a description of the first Passover meal. A lamb was sacrificed during the afternoon for each family. Its blood was smeared on the doorposts and lintel of the house to protect and save its occupants when the firstborn of the Egyptians died that night. That evening after sunset, during the Passover meal, the lamb was eaten by the family celebrating the Passover. It was not just that a lamb was sacrificed, but the lamb had to be eaten by the family. Not only that, but all Jewish people in the following centuries who celebrate the Passover see themselves present spiritually at that first Passover.
In our second reading tonight (1 Cor 11:23-26), we heard St. Paul’s description of the Last Supper. This is a precious description of the Last Supper for us because it is the oldest account we have of the Last Supper. St. Paul wrote that letter to the Corinthians around the mid 50s of the first century, even before the Gospels were written. As Jesus gave the apostles the bread, he said, “This is my Body.” (1 Cor 11:24) Jesus anticipated his sacrifice of himself on Calvary as he gave the bread to the apostles and said, “This is my Body.” Jesus did not say, “This is a symbol of my body” or “This is a representation of my body” but “This is my Body.” The bread maintains the appearance of bread but becomes the Body of Jesus. We call this transubstantiation—its substance changes but its appearance remains the same. Just as the Jewish people had to eat the Passover lamb for their Passover, Jesus tells us in the Gospel of John we have to consume his Eucharistic body for our life: “Whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” (John 6:51) “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.” (John 6:53) “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.” (John 6:56)
When Jesus gave the apostles the cup, he said, “This cup is the New Covenant in my Blood.” (1 Cor 11:25) Again, Jesus was anticipating the shedding of his blood on Calvary. We approve important documents with our signature, but for the Jewish people at that time a covenant was validated in blood. Moses sprinkled animals’ blood to confirm the covenant with God on Mount Sinai (Exod 24:6-8). Now, as Jesus is about to go to his death, he declared that the shedding of his blood will inaugurate the New Covenant. The blood of the lamb on the lintels and doorposts protected and saved the Jewish people during the first Passover, and the blood of Jesus shed for us established the New Covenant to save us from the damnation our sins deserve. In the New Covenant, Jesus is our Passover Lamb.
After Jesus gave the bread, he said, “Do this in remembrance of me.” (1 Cor 11:24) With these words Jesus asked us to continue to celebrate the Eucharist and gave the apostles who celebrated the Last Supper with him the authority to do so. “Do this in remembrance of me” was Jesus giving us both the Eucharist and priesthood during the Last Supper. Just as Jewish people, who remember the Passover in celebration every year, see themselves present spiritually with those who celebrated the first Passover and benefitting from it, in the same way, as we celebrate the Eucharist, we are present spiritually with Jesus as he gave his body and shed his blood for us on Calvary giving us the New Covenant. During every Mass, we are, so to speak, transported in time back to Calvary as Jesus gave his body and blood for us and we benefit spiritually each time we celebrate Mass. (Catechism §1362-1368; DS 1743)
Our Gospel tonight (John 13:1-15) is part of a very long account of the Last Supper in John’s Gospel. John is the only one of the evangelists to tell us that Jesus washed the apostles’ feet during the Last Supper. Washing feet was something a servant would do at that time. But when Jesus washed the apostles’ feet, he told them he had given them a model and they were to do the same (John 13:15). Jesus gave them a model of loving service of others. We receive the Eucharist during Mass, and we are also to love others charitably. Our relationship with Jesus makes us want to share our life in Jesus with others. All those called to priesthood and religious life are called to a life of spiritual union with Jesus and to serve others in love. Those called to the cloistered monastic life are not cutting themselves off from the world as people sometimes wrongly conclude; as well as giving themselves to Jesus, they are also giving themselves to the world in love by their prayers and sacrifices for the world.
Jesus washing the feet of the apostles, as well as signifying love and service, can also have other meanings. Jesus said, “Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.” (John 13:8) The Jewish tribe of Levi, the priestly tribe, received no land when the tribes entered Canaan. Instead, they were to receive their income from serving in the temple and from the tithes. Now, Jesus says to Peter that he will have no inheritance if Jesus does not wash his feet. Jesus will be Peter’s inheritance if Peter allows Jesus to wash his feet. So, sometimes Jesus washing the apostles’ feet is also seen as symbolizing baptism; when we were washed in baptism Jesus became our inheritance. Also, the dust of our sins is washed off us in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. In addition, before the Jewish priests were ordained, they had to bathe, and how interesting that before Jesus ordained the apostles as the first priests during the Last Supper, he washed their feet. So, as Jesus washing the apostles’ feet can also remind us of baptism, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and Priestly Ordination.
Thanks be to God for the Eucharist, the gift of Christ’s Body and Blood. Thanks be to God for priests who continue to make Jesus present on our altars in his Body and Blood. And thanks be to God that we can serve others in love.
© Fr. Tommy Lane 2015
This homily was delivered in a parish in Pennsylvania.
More homilies for Holy Thursday
Sharing in the Salvation of Jesus’ Cross now 2025
Jesus’ Body and Blood given for us 2021
Jesus shares his priesthood with the apostles during the Last Supper 2008
The Eucharist and the Priesthood were born during the Last Supper
Related Homilies:
Homilies on Priesthood Homilies on Vocation