April 2, 2026 Holy Thursday – Mass of the Lord’s Supper Gospel: John 13:1-15
Today is Holy Thursday. In accordance with the Church’s tradition, in the evening, priests return to their parishes to celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper for the faithful entrusted to their care, imitating the Good Shepherd, Christ, by washing the feet of the parishioners. The Gospel reading for the Mass of the Lord’s Supper is taken from St. John’s account of Jesus’ dialogue with His disciples and His washing of their feet during the Paschal supper. I would like to offer some reflections here. When we first read this passage, it can be hard to accept. In our eyes, our Lord Jesus Christ is the Most High Son of God. Yet today, He washes the feet of His own disciples. What great love! The Creator washing the feet of the creature! Even more astonishing is Peter’s response: “You will never wash my feet!”
The merciful Lord Jesus, before His passion, left His disciples at the Last Supper not only with His Body and Blood—as He said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in memory of me… This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in memory of me”—but also with the commandment of love. As He said, “I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet. You also ought to wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.” This is the command Jesus gives to all of us: to love one another. On this first day of the Triduum Sacrum, let us unite in prayer to God:
O God, who have called us to participate in this most sacred Supper, in which your Only Begotten Son, when about to hand himself over to death, entrusted to the Church a sacrifice new for all eternity, the banquet of his love, grant, we pray, that we may draw from so great a mystery, the fullness of charity and of life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever
April 2, 2026 Holy Thursday – Chrism Mass Gospel: Luke 4:16-21
Today is Holy Thursday. In accordance with the Church’s tradition, our beloved Holy Father and the clergy of the Holy See will celebrate a concelebrated Mass to bless the Oil of the Sick, the Oil of Catechumens, and the Sacred Chrism for the Diocese of Rome. Similarly, our diocesan bishop, together with the priests under his care, will bless these same oils for the current liturgical year during the Mass celebrated in his cathedral.
The Gospel reading for the Chrism Mass is taken from St. Luke’s account of Jesus returning to the synagogue in Nazareth, where He proclaims His messianic mission. I would like to offer some reflections on this passage. If we attend to the prophecies about the Messiah in the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, we find that Isaiah indicates the Messiah is to proclaim God’s word to four groups of people: the poor, those with broken hearts, captives, and prisoners. The “poor” are not merely those of lowly status but also those marginalized and excluded for various reasons. Those with “broken hearts” are not just those distressed by trivialities of worldly life but those whose sins have grieved the Holy Spirit dwelling within them. The “captives” are not only those taken prisoner in battle but those whose souls are held captive by the devil due to human weakness. The “prisoners” are not merely those deprived of freedom by violating human laws but those whose souls are enslaved by sin, unable to draw near to God.
Today, our Lord Jesus Christ declares in His hometown synagogue: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; therefore He has anointed me. He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and release to prisoners, to announce a year of favor from the Lord” (cf. Lk 4:18-19). He not only acknowledges His mission but fulfills it through all He does as the Messiah, the Son of God. Our Holy Father and the clergy in communion with him faithfully follow the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ, shepherding worthily the flock entrusted to their care by God. Like us, they are flesh and blood, experiencing trials and hardships. Let us, therefore, offer a prayer for all clergy:
O God, who anointed your Only Begotten Son with the Holy Spirit and made him Christ and Lord, graciously grant that, being made sharers in his consecration, we may bear witness to your Redemption in the world. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever
司祭長和法利賽人，他們召集公議會，共同商討如何應對耶穌給猶太社會造成的影響。他們害怕羅馬人來奪走他們的土地和國家。在這裡，我們要提到耶穌誕生以前發生的事。西元1世紀猶太歷史學家約瑟夫斯（Flavius Josephus）的著作《猶太古史》（Antiquities of the Jews）提到：季黎諾作敘利亞總督，進行人口登記（參看：路2:1-2）的時候，有一個加里肋亞人猶大，他起來引誘百姓隨從他，他喪亡了，所有跟隨他的人都四散了。（參看：宗5:37）他是一個激進主義者，宣導反抗羅馬人，儘管他所領導的起義失敗，卻給羅馬人和那些在聖殿裡的司祭和法利賽人，所有在公議會的猶太人帶來極大的影響。他們擔心，或許耶穌也要如同加里肋亞人猶大一樣，帶領那些追隨祂的人起義。
全属于祢 
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