With our evening celebration of the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, the holiest days of the year commence.
Just as was done in previous years, Jesus celebrated the Passover together with His disciples. This most important Jewish feast commemorates the liberation of God’s People from the tyrannical Pharaoh and his minions. To this day, every Jew is obligated to celebrate the feast which keeps alive the memory of God’s favor. Roasted lamb is prepared for the meal along with the customary water for the ablutions, bitter herbs, unleavened bread and wine.
With the setting of the sun Jesus recites the Psalms aloud and the solemn ceremony begins. This time, however, Jesus adds particular features that change everything. While they are eating, quite likely toward the end, Jesus institutes the Holy Eucharist. Until this moment the covenant God forged with His People is represented by the paschal lamb being sacrificed and eaten. Suddenly the Lamb being offered up for all is Christ Jesus Himself – His Body and His Blood. This marks the establishment of the new banquet from which everyone is to be fed.
The Jesus at the Last Supper is the same Jesus Who miraculously appears at every Mass and is in the Tabernacle.
As we make our way to adore the Lord Jesus this evening, we are certain to encounter Him. Indeed, He will see us and recognize us and bid us to dwell with Him. Hoist concerns before Him and give thanks for blessings received all the while recalling His generous self-giving done expressly for us and for our salvation.
