PASSION OF THE LORD BEGINS WITH MAUNDY THURSDAY

PANJIM: In our life, the last minute before doing something important is very significant. For example the time before we start on a journey is very important and we want to say a lot of things. Just like that, Jesus Christ, so many years ago, knew that his time was up and on the previous day of his departure gave us three gifts, said the Archbishop Patriarch, Rev Fr Filipe Neri Ferrao at his homily during the Observance of Maundy Thursday at the Se Cathedral-Old Goa, on Thursday evening.

The 12 priest Concelebration saw the Archbishop who washed the feet of faithful – representing the disciples. The Archbishop began by reminding the faithful that Thursday was the day that the Institution of the Eucharist, the institution of the Ministerial Priesthood and the Commandment of love and service were handed down by the Christ to his disciples and consequently to all Christians. The Archbishop then went on to explain a little more on the three.

“At Eucharist Jesus offered himself up according to the wish of the Father for us,” Fr Ferrao said, adding that He began the breaking of the bread and the wine to mean the body and blood of Christ like He was going to do the next day. He also instituted the ministerial priesthood when He told the disciples to “do this in memory of me.”

The Archbishop said that Lord Jesus’ offering up of himself for the salvation of mankind was a service and a gift to mankind. “During the Passover Feast – a Jewish Custom – he washed the feet of the disciples and told them that as “I am your Lord and master and I am washing your feet, so you should wash the fast of others and gave the Commandment of love to all,”” he said.

The word ‘Maundy’ originates from the command given by Christ at the Last Supper, that we should love one another. Christians remember ‘Maundy Thursday’ as the day of the Last Supper. Jesus was betrayed by Judas in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night of Maundy Thursday.