Homily: Holy Thursday
“The Lord’s Supper is Now”
by Fr. William Holtzinger
April 8, 2004

Tonight we begin the three parts of one larger service called the Triduum. It is the greatest celebration that the Church offers. Thank you for coming and beginning the journey from Christ’s Last Supper to his death and finally his resurrection. Much has been said about this Passion thanks to people Like Mel Gibson and his movie, The Passion of the Christ. Yet, through the power of the liturgy, we are not merely sitting and watching the events unfold. No! We are being made part of the events. This is the difference between the art of a movie and the living reality of liturgy.

We remember the Lord’s words and re-enact them, those events of the past are mytically brought into our present time and space. This means that we are all being challenged by Jesus’ actions just like the original apostles. In our remembrance, history is brought to our present time. We are journeying with Moses and Jesus as they tell us of the importance of God’s saving work in their midst. We travel in the Exodus tonight. We celebrate Christ’s last meal in this very space. We are being made present to all these events now in your hearing. We are companions with Moses and Aaron. We are Chirst’s disciples. So, let us not take these events, this celebration lightly. God is telling us to serve, to eat, and to drink. He is telling us to give our lives to him, and we will be saved. This is the lesson of the blood of the lamb. This is the lesson of the basin and the towel. This is the lesson of the bread and the wine. It is here now. Watch. Listen. Learn. Pray. Receive. The Lord’s Supper is upon you now.