"In remembrance of me"
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 can 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 Dad was and what a great
father, grandmother, uncle, or aunt we may hear about. 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 and
a firm reason for Christian hope.
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 are 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 a Passover meal. 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 and
shared it with his disciples adding these unprecedented words: "This
is my Body." He took that third 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 but 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. Three days later, as he appeared to them
risen all he said and did was confirmed as truth.
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 the
risen 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. Our unity in Christ makes us his body.
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. The
implications of the Eucharist go out far beyond the walls of the church.
It's a powerful moment for the Church. May it be a transforming moment of all of us.
Grant us , O Lord, we pray,
that we may participate worthily in these mysteries,
for whenever the memorial of this sacrifice is celebrated
the work of our redemption is accomplished.
Through Christ our Lord.
(Roman Missal: prayer over the gifts)
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