TOWEL, TRANSUBSTANTIATION AND TRUST: THE HEART OF MAUNDY THURSDAY

16 April 2025:

Gathered at the Table of Love

Twenty centuries ago, Our Blessed Lord in the evening hours of the day, gathered around the table, with His disciples, His chosen ones. Today, we too celebrate our God of Love.

The Fivefold Celebration of Love

The Liturgy of the Day is divided into five parts - each of them highlighting a specific dimension of Love:

• Liturgy of the Word – Love speaks to us
• Washing of the Feet – Love in action
• Liturgy of the Eucharist – Love in total self-giving and communion
• Procession to the Altar of Repose – Love accepting passion and suffering
• Adoration of the Holy Eucharist – Love is adored, glorified and exalted!

Joy and Agony Intertwined

This is a day of celebration: of the Lord’s immense love for us.

This is also a day of commemoration: of the Lord’s immense passion and agony.

On one side is the joy of He loving us so deeply.

On the other is the pain that we share in the Lord’s passion.

A Call to Personal Reflection

It would be nice to ask ourselves, looking deep into our innermost beings:

Am I a person of Love?

Do I yearn and long for the God of Love, especially in the Most Holy Eucharist?

The Lord is Holy. And He wants and demands a Holy heart from each of us.

For over 40 days of the Lent, we have been in this process.

Let us today, once again, remove any stain of sin from our hearts, and prepare ourselves to receive the God of Love into our hearts worthily.

Understanding ‘Maundy’

The word ‘Maundy’ comes from the Latin word Maundatum, which means ‘command.’

We recall three commands today:

• The command of Love – loving selflessly, as Jesus loved us
• The command of Commemorating the God of Love in the Holy Eucharist
• The command of continuity of sharing of the Priesthood of Jesus, the Priest and Victim

Love in Practical Action

Let this Day of the celebration of Love help us to take a few practical, yet strong decisions:

1. Washing the feet of the other

Service is not just an act, it’s a way of life - Jesus invites us to serve with humility and love. Let us practice some aspects of humbling ourselves:

• Forgiving someone we hate or dislike
• Visiting/Giving a phone call to a needy person and doing the needful for them
• Listening to the pain and suffering of someone who is going through troubles in life

2. Cultivating a deeper love for the Holy Eucharist

Archbishop Fulton Sheen says: “The Greatest Love Story of all time, is contained in a Tiny White Host!” Let us practice the following aspects:

Spending every day before the Blessed Sacrament for at least 15-20 min.

For those who cannot do so daily:

• Trying as often as possible, to come before the Blessed Sacrament
• Spending time in prayer with the Lord, daily, at home
• Meaningfully and regularly praying the Act of Spiritual Communion

Praying for Priests and Vocations

St John Vianney, the Patron Saint of all priests says, “The Priesthood is the love of the Heart of Jesus. When you see a priest, think of our Lord Jesus Christ .”

We keep the following intentions in our heart, on this Sacred and Special Day:

• Praying that all Priest be more holy and more committed to the Church
• Praying for, and encouraging vocations to priestly and consecrated life, from our own families

Towel, Transubstantiation and Trust: The Heart of Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday invites us to reflect on the Eucharist, service, and the love that transcends all.

• Towel – The symbol of service that wipes away pride and replaces it with humble love.
• Transubstantiation – The Greatest Miracle of Love where Bread and Wine becomes God, and God becomes our Food.
• Trust – The surrender of the heart that says, “Into Your Hands, I place my all.”

Let us cultivate a passionate love for Jesus in the Most Holy Eucharist and reach out His Love in compassionate service to one another!

Wish you a Very Happy Feast Day!

Hearty Congratulations and God’s abundant blessings of faithfulness and zeal to all the Priests!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Fr. Jijo Jose Manjackal MSFS

(reflectioncapsules@gmail.com)