Remember

"As I have done for you, so you must also do."

The Word for Holy Thursday: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/032918-lords-supper.cfm

John 13: 1-15

How do you want to be remembered after you die?  What phrase would you like written on your grave stone?  That's a little exercise that be quite sobering.  It certainly puts us in touch with the inevitable reality that there will be a moment in time when we will be gone - and the world will amazingly go on without us!

Often funeral services are places we hear all kinds of complimentary and wonderful things about the deceased.  Good news about their love, generosity, care for others, what a wonderful cook Mom was, how strong he was and what a great father, grandmother, uncle, or aunt.  We may wonder, "why didn't you say such things when I was alive?"  The point is that we all want to be remembered for some meaningful thing, something we said or did that had a positive effect upon others.  We know that may not always be the case depending on the circumstances but more often than not, our Catholic funerals are both sad and joyful; celebratory in fact at times for a life well lived.  Its the best we can do knowing that we remain only by a picture, a memory, maybe something we've written or a favorite phrase that is often repeated by family.

This Thursday evening the Church recalls, in fact remembers, the moment when Jesus decided how he wanted to be remembered after his death.  That details of the horrendous torture of Jesus on the Cross is yet hidden from the eyes of his disciples gathered with him and so they were likely in a very festive mood as was expected during the Passover dinner.  It too was a meal of remembrance.  Of God's liberation of the people from slavery in Egypt to freedom through the leadership of Moses.  How God heard their cries for freedom, saw their plight and sent Moses to set them free and lead them to the desert experience and the Promised land.

All seemed as before, in spite of the inner conflict that must have been stirring in the heart and mind of Jesus, until, scholars tell us he spoke unbelievable words never heard before over the bread and scholars tell us, over the third of the four cups of wine, Jesus dramatically changed everything for all time.

He took a piece of flat, cracker-like unleavened bread, matzoh, broke it apart to smaller pieces and shared with his disciples adding these unprecedented words:  "This is my Body." He took that cup, blessed it as customary, then gave it to be shared among his disciples saying: "This is the blood of the new covenant - take and drink it among yourselves."  "Do this in remembrance of Me."  These words, which echo down to our time and beyond, then commissioned, ordained, the disciples to continue this meal, this "Mass," that all would remember and meet Christ in the Eucharist.  The disciples, were then chosen as the first priests and both Sacraments of the Eucharist and Holy Orders were established by Jesus.

Here Jesus tells them and us, this is how I want to be remembered.  During a celebration of unity, love, service, and real presence.  For, what Jesus did then and continues to do today and until he returns, is not only to be remembered but to be truly present to us.  We can only be remembered.  He becomes our food.  Though we cannot physically see him - he is present alive to us under those signs of bread and wine.  What better way could you continue to be present with your followers than to become the meal they share, the food they eat and by grace transform them to be like that food in the world today.  All this we "remember" this evening and the disciples who were among the first priests to continue this same celebration right up to our time.

The Mass is not a play, drama, or a spectator sport. The congregation doesn't just sit there staring at the action or getting lost in a private devotion of prayer. Nor is the Mass the private celebration of the priest while the people simply wait quietly to receive the Eucharist. Neither the choir, priest, ministers or servers are performing like actors on a stage or in a movie. The liturgy pulls us into the moment and connects us truly with the living God. It is an encounter, person to person, with the living God in Christ Jesus our Lord.  There is a reason why the Vatican Council more than 50 years ago called for an active, conscious, and full participation since this is the mountain top worship of the entire Church gathered in prayer.

To emphasize this meaning all the more, he washed the feet of his disciples as a lasting memory of what the Mass calls us to become and to do for each other.  To humble ourselves in loving service to our neighbor after the example of Christ,  To see in our neighbor, Christ himself and to "wash their feet" as you would wash the feet of the living Lord.

It's a powerful moment for the Church.  May it be a transforming moment of all of us.