My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today we stand at the threshold of the most sacred days in our Church calendar—the Holy Triduum—three days that changed everything. This evening, on Holy Thursday, we remember and relive a night unlike any other. It’s a night of love, of service, of sacrifice. And it’s deeply personal. Because everything Jesus did on this night, He did not just for the Apostles, but for you and me.
Holy Thursday marks the end of Lent and the beginning of the Triduum. And with this liturgy tonight, we don’t just commemorate an event from history—we enter into it. We sit at the Lord’s Table. We listen to His words. We feel the water as He kneels to wash our feet. And most importantly, we receive His greatest gift—the Eucharist, His Body and Blood, poured out in love.
Tonight, we remember that the Eucharist was born out of a meal of friendship—the Passover meal in the upper room. It was there that Jesus took bread and wine and said words that still echo at every Mass: “This is my body… this is my blood… do this in memory of me.” This wasn’t just a farewell dinner. It was the beginning of a new covenant—a bond of love that nothing, not even death, could break.
And that’s not all. On this night, Jesus also gave us the gift of the priesthood. He chose simple, imperfect men and invited them to share in His mission—to feed His people with the Eucharist, to forgive sins, to shepherd the flock. And today, every priest in the world—myself included—traces our call back to that moment. What an honor, and what a responsibility.
But let’s not forget what Jesus did that shocked everyone in the room: He washed their feet. The Son of God bent down and did the work of a servant. Why? Because in God’s Kingdom, greatness is not measured by power, but by humility and service. “If I, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you also must wash one another’s feet.” That’s our call—to serve one another with humility, love, and generosity.
Let’s take that seriously. When we serve each other—when we forgive, when we care for the sick, when we listen to someone in pain—we’re not just doing good deeds. We are participating in the very heart of Jesus’ mission.
Tonight, we also reflect on Jesus’ prayer—His High Priestly Prayer. He prayed for the disciples, He prayed for the Church, and He prayed for us. He asked the Father that we might all be one—that we would be united in love and truth. In a world so divided, so noisy, so wounded, His prayer is more urgent than ever.
And after this night of prayer and intimacy, Jesus walked into the night toward the garden—toward Gethsemane—where He would agonize, alone, as His closest friends fell asleep. But He still invited them to “stay with me, and keep watch.” Tonight, in our Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, we answer that invitation. We stay with Him. We watch. We pray. We comfort the Heart that was about to be pierced for our salvation.
So what does this night mean for you?
It means that you are loved—deeply, sacrificially, eternally. It means Jesus has not left us alone—He is with us in the Eucharist. It means you are called to serve and to love, not just in words but in action. It means that through Baptism, we all share in His priesthood—and that every time we participate in the Mass, we are offering our lives with Him to the Father.
Let’s not let this moment pass us by. Let’s not be spectators tonight. Let’s enter into this mystery with open hearts. Let’s bring our burdens, our joys, our hopes, and place them at the table with Jesus. Because the same Lord who washed the feet of His disciples wants to wash our hearts clean. He wants to remain with us. And He does—every time we receive Him in the Eucharist, every time we gather as His Church, every time we kneel before Him in prayer.
Tonight, as we begin this journey through the Passion, let’s stay close to Him. Let’s stay awake. Let’s stay with Him.
And let us say from the depths of our hearts: Thank you, Lord, for the Eucharist. Thank you for the priesthood. Thank you for showing us what love looks like.
Amen.