Maundy/Holy Thursday - The Lord’s Supper: April 02, 2026
Readings: Exodus 12:1-8,11-14; Psalm 115(116):12-13,15-18; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-15
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| The Last Supper of Jesus |
We celebrate on this Maundy Thursday, a definite, enduring and continuous presence of our Lord Jesus Christ amongst us. The event of the establishment of the Holy Eucharist, which took place 2000 years ago in an obscure upper room in one of the houses in Jerusalem, still continues to be celebrated today as a mark of our Lord's intimate presence amongst us. The scene of this enactment of the Lord's Supper continues to draw inspiration and accept the challenges and sufferings this world brings to us. By participating in this mystery of the Eucharist, we are prepared to face any challenges with joy and courage. Moreover, it enables us to carry forward the memory and mission of our Lord to the ends of this earth.
1. Holy Eucharist: Partaking in His Divine Nature
Maundy Thursday draws us into the quiet, intimate heart of the Gospel—into an upper room where love takes visible form. Jesus makes a particular mark in human history through this act of sharing the Passover meal with his disciples. St. Paul, in recalling the tradition he himself received, brings us face-to-face with the mystery of the Eucharist. “This is my body… this is my blood.” These are not merely words spoken once in history; they are a living memorial, a presence that endures.
In the Eucharist, Christ does not simply remind us of His love—He gives Himself. Again and again, He becomes our nourishment, entering the ordinary elements of bread and wine so that our ordinary lives may be transformed into vessels of grace. By receiving him as our Lord and Master through this Eucharist, we become partakers of his divine nature. Through devotion and desiring this great sacrament of our God, we embody our Lord's presence through mercy and compassion.
2. Holy Eucharist: A Call to Live the Eucharist in Love and Service
The Eucharist teaches us something very important and significant. At its core, Eucharist is an act of self-giving love. Jesus is giving himself wholeheartedly to us. Jesus comes to us in simplicity and vulnerability, and not in grandeur or power. We approach the altar of the Lord with a sense of profound mystery—not as spectators, but as participants. We receive Him with faith and reverence. Thus, we try to become like Him: broken and given for others. In other words, when we celebrate the Eucharist, we are called to become the Eucharist we live.
St John, the Gospel writer who witnessed Jesus' public ministry, sums up the person of Jesus with a strikingly different yet deeply connected image. That is service. The act of the Last Supper begins with the washing of the feet of the disciples. Perhaps it might have been tough for the disciples of Jesus to comprehend this great act. But the lesson that Jesus taught always remains visible. As Eucharist is celebrated in a community, our service to the community is a must. It is not the authority that governs, but the service.
3. Holy Eucharist: Involving ourselves in the Mission of Jesus
The proven track of Jesus' love for humanity and his sense of humility in service is remarkable. Often, we want our God to remain above us and not to disturb us by immersing himself in us. We see this case when Peter refuses to let his feet to Jesus to be washed. For Peter, learning something very practical from his Master becomes very difficult. If we want God to intervene in our lives, we must allow ourselves to be completely taken over by our Creator. This will enable us to be moulded by Him. We must disarm ourselves from the unnecessary protective gear that we wear.
The Eucharist and the washing of feet are not two separate realities; they are one continuous movement of love. They teach us to kneel before others—to serve, to forgive, to care, especially when it is inconvenient or unnoticed. More importantly, when we are disliked precisely because we do such unconventional things. Maundy Thursday, therefore, is not only a remembrance; it is a commissioning. It is a call to live eucharistically: to be attentive to the needs of others, to choose humility over pride, to offer ourselves in quiet acts of love. In other words, the Altar must always inspire us.
Questions for self-reflection:
As we linger in the silence of this sacred evening, we are invited to examine our own hearts.
As we linger in the silence of this sacred evening, we are invited to examine our own hearts.
- Do we approach the Eucharist as a routine or as an encounter that transforms us?
- Are we willing to take up the towel, to enter into the hidden and humble work of love?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, on this sacred day, You give Yourself to us in love and humility. As we receive You in the Eucharist, transform our hearts, that we too may become a gift for others. Teach us to serve with humility, to love without counting the cost, and to live what we celebrate. Remain with us, Lord, and make us signs of Your presence in the world. We make this prayer in Jesus' Holy Name, Amen.
- Fr Olvin Veigas, SJ
E-mail: olvinveigas@jesuits.net
Blog: Celebrate Faith
Video: YouTube
31 March 2026
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