Holy Thursday
They shall eat its roasted flesh. (Exodus 12:8)
Have you ever wondered why the Israelites had to eat the meat from
the Passover lamb they had sacrificed? They had already painted the
blood of this lamb on their doorposts and lintels. They had already
waited breathlessly for the angel of death to pass over them. And it
worked. The blood kept them safe and saved them from bondage! So why did
they have to take the next step and eat the lamb? Was it just a
ceremonial practice? Or was there something else God wanted for them?
It’s helpful to remember that the night of the Passover was only the
beginning of the story for the Israelites. They were about to embark on a
very long journey, so they needed the sustenance that this meal would
give them. Without that food, they would not have been able to make the
trip. Their deliverance would be a hollow victory if they didn’t have
the strength they needed for the journey ahead.
It’s easy to see the application for our lives today. We too need the
spiritual protein that comes from eating the flesh of Jesus, our
Paschal Lamb. When he died for us, Jesus pardoned us and cleansed us of
our sins. Death was no longer a threat for us. But that’s not the end of
our story. We too have a long journey ahead of us, and we too need all
the sustenance we can get. That’s why Jesus left us his presence in the
Eucharist! He gave us the precious gift of this heavenly banquet so
that we could find all the strength—and transformation—we need to make
it safely to the Promised Land.
Tonight begins the Easter Triduum. What better way to celebrate the
next three days than to receive communion at every opportunity? If you
haven’t gone to confession yet, there’s still time. Try to empty
yourself of all that divides you from the Lord. Then come to the feast
hungry and thirsty. He will satisfy your every need. He will fill you
with his comfort, his encouragement, and his grace.
“Jesus, you are the Lamb of God. I don’t want to stop at being
cleansed by your blood. I want to be nourished deeply and transformed as
I receive your very life within me!”
Psalm 116:12-13,15-18; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-15