Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Holy Thursday, April 17, 2025

Delivered by Bella from the Parish of Kristus Raja in the Diocese of Surabaya, Indonesia. Exodus 12: 1-8.11-14; Rs psalm 116: 12-13.15-16bc.17-18; 1 Corinthians 11: 23-26; John 13: 1-15MEANINGFUL HOLY THURSDAY Our meditation today is entitled: Meaningful HolyThursday. The Thursday in the Holy Week is called also “White Thursday” becauseobviously white is the color of the liturgical tools and clothing in today'scelebration. This color symbolizes joy and celebration. Today's celebrationcenters on Jesus Christ with its emphasis on Jesus' actions that manifestglory, joy, power and feast.  In this celebration there is a ceremony where Jesuswashes the feet of His apostles. This act of Jesus teaches us to serve oneanother with humility. This is a great joy. The atmosphere of joy and glory oflove among us can be revealed through mutual services. So Jesus says that weshould love one another as He Himself has loved us. He teaches us that Hisgreatest commandment is to love our neighbors. The Lord exists in our neigboursand fellow brothers and sisters.  The celebration of the evening reminds us of theEucharist, the great sacrifice of the holy Mass ordained by Jesus Christ. Wordsand deeds of love are indeed the manifestation of joy and the presence of theglory of God. The celebration of the Eucharist is definitely the joy of theincarnation of God's word to become His own body that we share together as one holyChurch. Along with the Eucharist, Jesus instituted the Sacrament of thePriesthood. This is an important joy for the entire Church because this Priesthoodis to minister the Eucharistic celebration in the Church. The priesthood is toexercise the power of the Lord to lead the Church and bring her members to thelight and truth of the Lord Himself.  In this celebration we also remember the criticalmoments of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, where the sweat of His blood are flowingand dripping to bring Him to the glory of the cross that is already soon to becelebrated. The atmosphere of Gethsemane describes the trials and difficultiesthat make this life uncomfortable and insecure. But like God Himself, we mustpass through it with confidence. Between Gethsemane and Golgotha are the crucialmoments called the threshold of sufferings. Usually temptation always comeswith the intention of leading us away from bitter reality, as shown in Jesus'own expression: Father, let this cup be taken away from me. But we must followour Master Jesus Christ to overcome that temptation, and to be willing to drinkthe cup of suffering. This is truly our joy. On this morning in general, the Diocesan Bishoptogether with his priests celebrate the Chrism Mass. In this feast, the Bishopblesses the holy oils, namely oil for chrism, oil for catechuments, and oil foranointing the sick. These three kinds of oil are the tools in the priesthood orderto minister the sacraments to God's people. Let us pray. In the name of the Father... Lord Jesus Christ,strengthen our faith to remain faithful to the Eucharist as the means of oursalvation. Our Father who art in heaven... In the name of the Father ...