Location: San Fernando Cathedral
Jesus knows that his time has come. Many times, he has warned his disciples what He would have to suffer. They, however, refuse to believe him. Even before breaking the bread, Jesus suffers from the disbelief of those closest to him. Even so, the love of God is given unconditionally to these men, not only for their sake, but for them to be the stewards of God’s mercy in the name of Christ. God incarnate – model of man – establishes the Church with a group of sinful men, as a sign of his power and his mysterious everlasting presence in the world.
Our lack of faith also hurts Jesus. Even so, by his mercy shed through his blood, we are truly incorporated into the Body of Christ, which is given to us as food. The people of Israel walked through the desert for forty years after being liberated from Egypt.
Likewise, we have traveled a forty-day journey of preparation to participate in the promised banquet. It is the commemoration of our liberation – made present here and now – from the bondage of sin. We have made the journey imperfectly. Our poor offering is our contrite and humbled heart. In the eyes of the Father, we are made perfect by Christ, through Him and with Him, by the work of the Holy Spirit.
Let us see through the Lord’s own eyes when he washes the feet of his disciples. He also washes our feet through the mystery of the Church. He sets the example, so that we may have an inheritance with Him. Judas has already left to complete his betrayal. Through Peter, everyone’s confusion is shown. Peter promises to remain with the Lord at all costs, but Jesus announces that in a few hours Peter himself will have publicly denied three times that he knew him. Let us imagine the Lord’s grief. From his own eyes, let us see his growing loneliness.
He is progressively abandoned, as he gives his life so that we may be risen by him from our situation of sin. It is the culmination of the Lord’s mission. What does Jesus see? As the hour of his Passion approaches, what do our little faith, our problems and sins look like in his eyes?
Jesus knows everything and he knows our hearts. He is faithful to the end. He loves his disciples and us through them, totally and unconditionally. He gives them, as well as us, His own Body to eat and His Precious Blood to drink. He asks them, and also asks us, to celebrate the Eucharist in commemoration of him, remembering each time the Last Supper and his death on the Cross.
As Pope Francis said, “Jesus overturns the historical and cultural customs of that time – and those of today too: in order to be a good leader, one who leads, wherever he may be, must serve.” We must take the Lord with us into our daily lives.
We need to proclaim the good news of God’s enduring love to all who need to hear good news, not only by our words, but also by our actions. We need to reach out, as Jesus did, to the poor and the needy, the vulnerable and incarcerated, the addicted and abused. No one should be excluded from God’s loving embrace!
Mary remains as close as she can to Jesus during his Passion. Our Lady of Guadalupe, help us to have the courage not to flee from the loving gaze of your Son. Let his merciful gaze fill us with strength to announce the good news that He has saved us as He gave his Body and his Blood.
