Maundy Thursday notes

Sermon notes on the Blessed Sacrament

Now it all becomes clear, and what was for long ages hidden becomes manifest in Christ our Lord.

The Passover must be killed.
The Passover is eaten.
His Blood marks our door (the door of our lips), and Death passes over.
Behold His urgency: we eat it in haste with our sandals on our feet. That is, He washes our feet by this Sacrament, that we may walk in His ways. Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. How can any delay? Delay in coming to this Feast? You might as well play Russian roulette. Why play with your eternal welfare, beloved? Why walk, when the Lord says run? Why plod along, when the Lord says hasten? Eat it in haste: it is the Lord’s Passover.

Now even what Christ had Himself done earlier comes into sharp relief.

Now do you see why He changed water into the finest wine? To prepare us for this Feast! Now do you see why He fed thousands with a few loaves of bread? To show us in advance what He intended to do for all of His people. Now behold what He really meant when He said I am the Bread of Life . . . He that eateth My flesh and drinketh My blood hath eternal life.

For now, on the night when He was betrayed, He took bread. See, the night when His passion begins, the first hour of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement is upon us. The Blood of the Lamb is sprinkled on the altar, the same Lamb whose Blood marks the people’s doors, and whose flesh the people eat.

Here is the heart and soul of your life: here is Christ in all the richest beauty of His merciful lovingkindness; here he gives Himself for you and to you at the same time.

Be of good cheer, beloved, for this His darkest hour is your brightest morn; this His deepest sorrow is your greatest joy. For He insists on being your Life and your Salvation.