HOMILY: Mass of the Lord’s Supper/Holy Thursday
John 13:1-15
6 April 2023
Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA
When we want our friends to remember us, we usually give them gifts. Sometimes we give them gifts we know they will like, or give them things that will remind them of us, or sometimes we treat them to experiences like a trip (ang “shala”), a movie, or treat them to a meal. They are tokens of our friendship. Gifts need not be expensive among true friends; rather meaningful gifts are more precious and reflective of the depth of the friendship.
At the Last Supper, Jesus also gives His disciples a special parting gift. It is not just any kind of gift but rather a very special one. Jesus gave Himself and His constant presence among them in the Sacrament of the Eucharist. The Eucharist is His greatest Gift to us; it is the source and summit of our Christian Life.
Tonight, more than the washing of the feet of the apostles, we celebrate the institution of the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. At every mass, we remember Jesus’ gift of Himself for His dear friends. It is not a past event that we worry about. Hindi ito isang nakalipas na pangyayari na ating inaalala. Neither are we watching a reenactment of Jesus’ flogging, passion and crucifixion but rather we witness Christ’s sacrifice on the cross becoming truly present in the celebration of the Eucharist. Tuwing inaalay ang katawan at dugo ni Kristo sa altar ay nangyayari na mag-uli ang Kanyang pagsasakripisyo para sa ating kaligtasan. Though the Paschal mystery of Christ is not repeated, it is made present by the power of the Holy Spirit at every mass. How is this possible? Sa totoo lang ito ay isang Banal na Misteryo ng simbahan. Hindi natin lubos na maintindihan ang galaw ng ating makapangyarihang Diyos. Pero nanampalataya tayo na totoo ang binitiwang habilin ni Hesus sa Huling Hapunan. Sa ikalawang pagbasa ng sulat ni San Pablo sa mga Korinto, ikinukuwento muli ang mga sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga kaibigan. Jesus twice told the apostles, “Do this in remembrance of me.” First, after He says over the bread: “This is my body that is for you,” and then again, after He says over the cup: “This covenant is the new covenant in my blood.” The Church teaches “All that Christ is – all that He did and suffered for all men – participates in the divine eternity, and so transcends all times” (CCC 1085) Dahil sa umaapaw na pagmamahal ni Kristo para sa sangkatauhan, ipinahintulot Niya na ating maranasan sa bawat misa ang Kanyang sakripisyo na siyang ugat ng ating kaligtasan.
Kamakailan, may isang estudyante na ginawan ng food review ang consecrated host “Ostiya”. Ibinulsa ang ostiyang natanggap sa komunyon at ginawan ng food review na tila ito ay ordinaryong pagkain lamang. Nakakalungkot ito dahil ito ay patunay na tila kulang na ang ating kaalaman at pananampalataya kung kaya’t di natin kinikila ang halaga ng banal na sakramento. Importanteng, nakikita sa atin ng kabataan kung paano dapat respetuhin ang katawan ni Kristo sa ostiya. Salamat sa Diyos at nang may isang news article na nagsabing “the host symbolises Christ” ay may pari na umalma at itinama ang balita. The host is not a symbol! The host is Christ Himself!” The scriptural basis for this belief can be traced back to the Last Supper, as recounted in the Gospels. In particular, the Gospel of John (6:53-56) highlights Jesus’ command to His disciples to eat His flesh and drink His blood, an act necessary for eternal life.
Theologically, this can be explained through what is termed as “Transubstantiation”, which means a change of substance. Sa oras ng “consecration” sa misa nagbabagong anyo ang tinapay at alak ay nagiging katawan at dugo ni Kristo. Kahit pareho lang ang hitsura nito sa atin, nananampaltaya tayo na binago na ng Diyos Ama sa kapangyarihan ng Espiritu Santo ang inihain sa altar.
Since it is Jesus Himself we are receiving, we should always approach the Holy Communion with reverence, respect, and devotion! Kaya tayo ay pinapayuhang mag-ayuno ng isang oras bago magkomunyon, magbihis ng maayos bago humarap sa Panginoon, at ihanda ang kalooban (mas mabuti kung nakapagkumpisal) bago tanggapin si Kristo. We must realize that as we approach the altar, we are to receive Jesus, not mere bread and wine symbolic of Jesus, but truly Jesus Christ, the bread come down from heaven, His true Body and Blood. We are receiving the Lord Himself. As Jesus Himself said: “My flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.” And as St. Paul said: “The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a communion in the blood of Christ? The bread we break, is it not a communion in the body of Christ?” (1 Corinthians 10:16).
When we receive Holy Communion and enter into this most intimate union with Christ, we are also most intimately united with one another. The Eucharist is what makes the Church. Ang binubuklod ng Sakramento ay di lang ikaw at si Hesus kundi ang buong sambayanang banal. Through our union with Christ, we are also united deeply with one another as the Body of Christ. When we receive the Eucharist, our soul is fed: we become what we receive, we become ONE IN CHRIST. What an amazing gift indeed!
Photo from: Denver Catholic
Sunday Gospel Reflections 