Holy Thursday

I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, "This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.

“Do this in remembrance of me.” These words are repeated for both the Body and Blood of Christ and are a commandment we keep as dearly as the ten commandments of Moses and the golden commandments to love God and neighbor. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross is foreshadowed by the Lord’s Supper. Through the Liturgy of the Eucharist, we fully participate in the Passion and Death of Christ. We make present Jesus’ sacrifice for us through the sacrifice on the altar. We proclaim the death of the Lord each time we partake in the Blessed Sacrament, but we also anticipate the Resurrection and the Second Coming in the same act. Jesus died for our sins and through his death we have been granted the saving grace we need to heal our souls.

Do we keep holy the Sabbath day? In what ways can we prepare ourselves to fully participate in the Lord’s Supper each week? How can we make the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross more meaningful to us so we might receive it more respectfully and worthily?

O Lord, we celebrate your sacrifice on the cross with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths.

Amen.

Good Friday

After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I thirst.” There was a vessel filled with common wine. So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop and put it up to his mouth. When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, “It is finished.” And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.

Jesus was incarnated for us. He was raised by the Blessed Mother and St. Joseph for us. He was baptized for us. He was tempted by the Devil and prevailed for us. He was a preacher of the Good News for us. He performed miracles for us. He suffered persecution for us. He was abandoned, betrayed and bound for us. He was mistreated and found guilty for us. He was scourged and crowned with thorns for us. He was condemned and sentenced to crucifixion for us. He carried his cross and its humiliation for us. He was nailed to the cross for us. He was lifted up for all to mock for us. He was merciful even to his enemies for us. He granted mercy to the good thief for us. He bestowed his Blessed Mother Mary to all mankind for us. He felt abandoned for us. He thirsted for us. He accomplished everything for us. He sacrificed his body and blood for us. He handed over his spirit for us. He did all these things and more for us and we should make every effort to remember this throughout our lives and eternity.

Do we spend time every day recalling what Jesus has done for us? How can we use Jesus’ life of self-sacrifice as a model for our own lives? In what ways do we accomplish God’s Will through our thoughts, words, and works?

O Lord, we thirst for your saving waters and the accomplishment of your will.

Amen.