HAPPY EASTER!

Earlier this week we read at Mass from John's gospel, Jesus dipped bread and gave it to Judas...Someone asked, Did Judas receive the Eucharist?  I said, Not today.  Wait until tomorrow.

The next day we read from Matthew, where again Jesus and Judas shared bread, but then it goes on to say, While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, 'Take and eat; this is my body.' Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, 'Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins.'

From that point on the Last Supper became the Lord's Supper. All four gospels write of the Last Supper, but only the synoptic gospels [Matthew, Luke and Mark] write of the Lord's Supper. John does not write of the consecration but rather gives us the account of the Washing of Feet - perhaps to emphasize that getting on our knees to serve one another, to cleanse another's dignity, is the best way to 'Do this in remembrance of me.'

In the synoptic gospels we do not read of Judas leaving or partaking of the consecrated bread and wine.  Perhaps he did receive along with the others.  If so, a quote from the noted American-British poet, T.S. Eliot, may offer insight and understanding, We had the experience but missed the meaning. 

If Judas received the Eucharist, he certainly missed the meaning. Perhaps the others did as well, for they went on to deny and abandon Our Lord. Perhaps we too receive time and again and miss the meaning. How often do we receive while our minds are a million miles away, focused on everything but the holy encounter? How often do we receive and then continue to "deny, abandon, and/or betray" our Lord?

Everyday we celebrate the Paschal Mystery. But the Sunday celebration takes precedence. Today we begin the Holy Triduum [Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil], which takes precedence over the Sunday Mass. Lest we simply experience but miss the meaning, allow me a few more words.

The key, for me today is the Foot Washing. It is more than mere washing of that which stains our bodies and spirit, it is a sign of intimacy and caressing. Years ago, at Sacred Heart in Springfield, Missouri we wanted the congregation to experience this sense of intimacy and caressing - both giving and receiving. We didn't think it was practical for each one to participate in the washing of feet, so we changed it to hand-washing. I washed the first who came, who then washed the hands of another, and on and on. At one point one of my altar servers, 8-year old Nicky, washed the hands of his mother, Rose, and as he did so, Rose's face was beaming and tears poured down her cheeks. I'll always treasure that moment.

On Good Friday, we are reminded that the Cross is the sign of our faith. To many this may seem scandalous and crazy, like celebrating an electric chair or a guillotine. But for us the Cross is where heaven and earth meet, where we understand most fully that to love God is more that a vertical gaze, but rather to stretch our arms and embrace our sisters and brothers. And more, it means that no matter how cruel and violent we might be, God will never stop loving us. Many years ago at Corpus Christi, in Stone Mountain, Georgia, where I am serving again, a very creative parishioner, Manola, had a huge cross placed in front of the altar and all were invited to come and pound a nail into it. As we heard hammer hit nail, and especially when we pounded our nail into the cross, we felt deeply our complicity in the crucifixion, our sorrow, and our gratitude for God's great love.

There is much to celebrate at the Easter Vigil (and throughout the 50 days of Easter).  It is the celebration of life. For me nothing brings this home more than the sprinkling rite - a renewal of the Baptismal water when we first experienced new life in Christ. Water is a sign of life. We could not live without it. Most of our body is made up of water; so too our planet. We came forth when our mothers broke water. Water is life. I like to get people really wet, to make them feel alive! It is said that when water meets rock, water always wins...more through persistence than force. The sprinkling with holy water is meant to touch and re-shape hardened hearts and to fall on good soil and bring about abundant fruit...abundant life.

At each Mass let us not merely have the experience but miss the meaning. At this Holy Triduum, focus on the foot-washing, the Cross we reverence, and the sprinkling rite...and let us get the meaning.