My Thoughts on 09/04/2020

Never in our lifetime have we celebrated the Triduum in such isolation. Fr Sylvester, Canon John and myself will celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper tonight, alone. We will be unable to bring in procession the oils of Chrism, the Oil of the Sick and the Oil of Catechumens because we have been unable to celebrate a Chrism Mass. There will be no washing of feet but at the end of Mass during a period of Adoration we three will renew our priestly promises.

The command given to us in the Gospel tonight by Jesus (John 13:1-25) is the command to serve. It was usually the lowliest servant whose task it was to wash the feet of the weary travellers. When Jesus had washed the disciples feet he asked, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Lord and Master, and rightly; so I am. If I, then, the Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you should wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example so that you may copy what I have done to you.” Jesus has given us a way to happiness.

We are asked to give ourselves away. Let us pray that we are given the grace to serve on another, to give ourselves away.