Making a Joyful Noise on Holy Thursday –
04/17/2014
“If we are to share our lives with
others and generously give of ourselves, we also have to realize that every
person is worthy of our giving. Not for their physical appearance, their
abilities, their language, their way of thinking, or for any satisfaction that
we might receive, but rather because they are God’s handiwork, his creation.
God created that person in his image, and he or she reflects something of God’s
glory. Every human being is the object of God’s infinite tenderness, and he
himself is present in their lives. Jesus offered his precious blood on the
cross for that person. Appearances notwithstanding, every person is immensely
holy and deserves our love. Consequently, if I can help at least one person to
have a better life, that already justifies the offering of my life. It is a
wonderful thing to be God’s faithful people. We achieve fulfilment when we
break down walls and our heart is filled with faces and names!” (Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium: The Joy of the Gospel)
These words of Pope Francis reflect the
spirit of this most holy day that we celebrate. Yes, Holy Thursday is about the
institution of the Eucharist. Yes, Holy Thursday is a special day for priests
as we look to this day as a starting point for our life and ministry as
priests. Yes, Holy Thursday is a day when we remember the beginning of Christ
Passion which will lead to his Death and Resurrection. And yes, Holy Thursday
is about a meal, Christ’s last meal, a meal that calls us to remember the
history of our faith as God’s people released from slavery and beginning a
journey to freedom.
But from my perspective today is about
service, about looking beyond ourselves to the gift of God within us and sharing
that gift. Pope Francis reminds us that all of us are God’s handiwork. All of
us reflect the glory of God.
It was on this day that Jesus showed his
infinite tenderness by washing the feet of his friends and by sharing himself
in the Eucharist. It was intimacy, tenderness and a gift that defined Jesus
life and ministry. As Pope Francis reminds us, it is the very way of life that
Jesus calls us to as people of the Gospel.
May this Holy Thursday truly help us to
break down the walls and open our hearts that they may be filled with face and
names! Have a blessed Holy Thursday everyone and please give a little time to
God before the day is over. Don’t forget to make a joyful noise with your life
today!
Holy Thursday Prayer: O God, in the
fullness of time you revealed your love in Jesus. On this remembrance of the eve
of his death, we recall how as a sign of your covenant, Jesus washed the feet
of his friends and gave himself as Eucharist.
We pray today that you will give us life
through the Eucharist and the gift of your joy to follow Christ in humble
service. So that one day we may pass over from this world to your kingdom and
enjoy the blessing of eternal joy. Amen!
A Runner’s Thoughts: Run in the
presence of God. In order to do this, as you run, simply imagine God is with
you constantly on the run. It does not matter how you image God. Just take
whatever image of God you have and allow that image to accompany you on your
run.
Daily Blessing: Good afternoon everyone!
I know I am a little late today but it was a busy morning and I am dragging a
little from a long Lent! I hope you are having a blessed Holy Thursday. The sun
has been shining all day here in Pelham, it is a little on the cool side though
but it is nice to see the sun.
I celebrated a mass with the school
children and some other folks at St. Barnabas Parish in the Bronx this morning.
In case you are wondering it is allowed to celebrate an earlier mass on Holy
Thursday for pastoral reasons. So we used the readings of the day and tried to
help the young people understand the meaning and importance of this day. It
also helped some older folks who can get out at night to participate in this
most holy day! I will head back for the Eucharist of the Lord’s Supper at 7:30
pm this evening as I am preaching all the Triduum services.
I hope you will be able to get to at
least some of the services over the next three days if not for the whole
service perhaps just for a short visit so that you might stay in touch with the
holiness, blessing and grace of these days. Please make a visit, spend some
time in prayer. Take a little break for the busyness of life to be touched by
God’s grace!
My prayer of blessing for all of you today
is that the infinite tenderness of God might touch your life and that you will
be blessed over these most holy days with the joy of the Cross, which springs
from the knowledge that we possess an imperishable treasure in perishable
earthen vessels. Holy Thursday blessings to all! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr.
Paul
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