Thursday of Holy Week (Holy Thursday)

 Readings of the day: RB 48:10-21

Chrism Mass: Is 61:1-3a, 6a, 8b-9; Resp Ps 89; Rev 1:5-8; Lk 4:16-21

Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper: Ex 12:1-8, 11-14; Resp Ps 116; 1 Co 11:23-26; Jn 13:1-15

We are about to enter the most sacred days of the liturgical year: ‘The Paschal Triduum of the Passion and Resurrection of the Lord begins with the evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper, has its center in the Easter Vigil, and closes with Vespers (Evening Prayer) of the Sunday of the Resurrection’ (Universal Norms on the Liturgical Year, 19). The Word speaks to us these days in myriad ways. Try to remove yourself from your normal daily activities and take time for silence and prayer. Ponder how the Word is speaking to you. May we grow in faith and be renewed in hope.

Jesus poured water into a basin and began to wash

the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel around his waist.

I focus on two sentences spoken by Jesus in this evening’s Gospel: “If I, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do’ (Jn 13:14-15). What does it mean to ‘wash another’s feet’? How will you wash another’s feet during these holy days?

If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it.

I GIVE YOU A NEW COMMANDMENT, SAYS THE LORD:

LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU.

(Verse Before the Gospel, Mass)