Holy Thursday Reflections: The Depth of His Love

We begin today the solemn triduum in preparation for the great "remembering" of the Lord's Resurrection -- His total destruction of sin and death. In today's Liturgy, we commemorate the Lord Jesus' Supper with His disciples in the upper room. In today's Liturgy, we do an "anamnesis" of how much the Lord loves all of us and how He manifested His great love for all of us by instituting two Sacraments (channels of grace): The Sacraments of the Holy Eucharist and of Holy Orders.

The Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist is the Sacrament of Love. As Saint Ignatius aptly describes it, "It is the manifestation of God's deepest love for all of humanity (S.E. 289)." A Sacrament instituted by Christ to make His presence really and most tangibly felt by all who believe in Him.

The Sacrament of Holy Orders is the Sacrament of Service. As the Lord Jesus instituted the Priesthood, He instructed His disciple to do what He had just done: Serve with Love.

As we participate in the Liturgy today, let us do a "grateful anamnesis" of these two Sacraments as instituted by the Lord Himself. That we truly appreciate His real and abiding presence in the Holy Eucharist and that we strive to conform our lives to that of Christ Jesus our High Priest: a life of loving and serving. Amen.