Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Greetings to you all!
Maundy Thursday, Year C
Today is Holy Thursday. Holy Thursday marks the end of the Lenten season and beginning of the Easter Triduum. These three days draw our attention into the mystery of our Salvation; that is the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
It was during this night; Jesus had his farewell meal with his disciples. Among those who were at the table some of whom will betray him, desert him, or deny him before the sun rose again. But still his heart is filled with love for them. So, having known what he is going to soon face, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples and gave himself as a permanent gift to nourish all our lives, with his Body and Blood.
Jesus after washing the feet of his disciples, instructed them with these words saying, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Master and Lord, and rightly; so, I am. If I, then, the Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you should wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example so that you may copy what I have done to you.” It is a final and powerful reminder to his disciples. All these years, the disciples had seen Jesus’ preaching, and curing people from various diseases. Jesus finally showed them in action too. So, today we are all invited to imitate him in our lives too. St. Paul in his letter to the Philippians says, “though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness” (Phi 2:6-7). Am I able to take this challenge of Jesus in my life today?
It was during this night he instituted the Priesthood too. St. John Vianney says, “The priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus. When you see a priest, think of our Lord Jesus Christ.” On this day, please pray for your priests and stand with your priests at every moment of their lives and pray that they remain faithful to their commitment to the Lord and to his people.
To continue this gift of Jesus let us not forget to pray for more vocations to the priesthood and religious life. I always believe that praying for vocations is the duty of every baptised Christian, so that we shall help those people who are discerning in their lives, especially towards the Priesthood and religious life. May God bless you all!
Maundy Thursday eBulletin Year C
Click here to download the eBulletin for Maundy Thursday Year C.
Prayer for Priests
Gracious and loving God, we thank you for the gift of our priests.
Through them, we experience your presence in the sacraments.
Help our priests to be strong in their vocation.
Set their souls on fire with love for your people.
Grant them the wisdom, understanding, and strength
they need to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.
Inspire them with the vision of your Kingdom.
Give them the words they need to spread the Gospel.
Allow them to experience joy in their ministry.
Help them to become instruments of your divine grace.
We ask this through Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns as our Eternal Priest.Amen.
God bless.
Fr John Sebastian
Rector and Parish Priest