First Reading - Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14
Second Reading - 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Gospel - John 13:1-15
1) The institution of the Holy Eucharist during the Last Supper—the first Holy Mass.
2) The institution of the ministerial priesthood to continue offering the Eucharist, forgive sins, and proclaim the Gospel.
3) The giving of Jesus’ “new commandment”: “Love one another as I have loved you” (Jn 13:34).
In the first reading, we revisit the roots of the Jewish Passover. God instructed the Israelites to mark their homes with the blood of a lamb and prepare a special meal, signaling their liberation from slavery in Egypt. This was no ordinary meal. It was eaten in haste, standing and ready for a journey—from bondage to freedom. It was a covenant meal, and it became the foundation for the Christian Passover: the Eucharist. It is no coincidence that Jesus chose this sacred night to transform the Passover into the memorial of His own sacrifice.
The second reading reminds us of the sacred tradition of the Eucharist, passed down from the Lord Himself. St. Paul underscores that the Eucharist is not just a ritual, but a proclamation of the Lord’s death until He comes. It is the mystery of our faith: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. Paul also issues a warning: if we partake in the Eucharist without love, reverence, and a spirit of service, we risk turning this holy gift into a judgment against ourselves.
The Eucharist is Christ’s Body broken and His Blood poured out for the forgiveness of sins. It is the sacrament of a new and eternal covenant. There is no mention of a lamb in the Last Supper accounts because Jesus Himself is now the Lamb—offering Himself as both Host and Victim. The Eucharist is our new Passover meal, liberating us from the slavery of sin and leading us into new life.
In the Gospel, St. John takes a different approach. He does not mention the bread and wine becoming Jesus’ Body and Blood. Instead, he recounts an act of love and humility: the washing of the disciples’ feet. In doing this, Jesus gives us a living image of what the Eucharist demands. The one who gives Himself as food is the same one who kneels and serves.
Jesus washes their feet, feeds them, and then walks to Calvary. He calls us to do the same. The Eucharist and loving service are inseparable. We cannot honor the Eucharist truly if we are unwilling to serve others. As Jesus broke Himself for us, we too are called to be broken for others.
Dear friends, Maundy Thursday challenges us to live Eucharist—not just to receive it. To wash one another’s feet means to forgive from the heart, serve without expecting reward, love when love is not returned, and care for those burdened or forgotten. It means adjusting our lives to put others first. It means being broken and poured out like Christ.
We are also invited to sacrificial sharing—of our time, talents, and resources. To love as Christ loved is to live with open hands and open hearts. The Eucharist is not complete unless it forms a community of love and service.
The bread we break is the fruit of crushed grains. The wine we drink is the result of pressed grapes. These are signs of unity through suffering. We are called to be a people who support, pray for, and walk with those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit.
Let us also receive the Eucharist worthily—with hearts cleansed of grave sin, with humility, and with deep reverence. The words we pray before Communion remind us of our unworthiness and God’s mercy:
“Lord, I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof…”
We approach this table not as perfect people, but as forgiven sinners in need of grace.
Finally, the Mass ends with a mission: to be Christ-bearers in the world. Whether the words are “Go in peace” or “Go and proclaim the Gospel,” the message is the same: we carry Christ with us. We bring His love to our families, workplaces, and communities.
Tonight, as we adore the Lord in the Eucharist and accompany Him to Gethsemane, may we renew our commitment: to love, to serve, to be broken and shared for others. Let us live the Eucharist we celebrate, and become a living sign of Christ’s presence in the world.
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