18 Apr Thursday

The I Corinthians reading tonight begins the thread of the self-emptying of Jesus. He deliberately connects the Eucharist to his death. His being handed over and the breaking of the break are the parallels here; the two actions are connected and relate to himself, not in some sort of symbolic way as if a thing of the past, but stand in his place in the same way he exists.

For both the cup, he commands that this is what we do in order to remember him, in other words to see his presence in our midst. This is what he tells us to do. He doesn’t tell us to go stand in a field outdoors and bow our head and put that “prayer” look on our faces.

It is rather this specific action of remembrance in bread and wine, transubstantiated, is at the heart of the liturgical orientation of the Church when at communion. In the same way, too, e are to be “broken” and “handed over.” It is obvious to say that the washing of feet is a further sign of that self-emptying quality of service. Whose feet have I “washed” in this past year? That’s the homily!