Maundy Thursday Homily

Holy Week Homilies by Abbot Paul Stonham 2006

Maundy Thursday 2006

"He had always loved those who were his own in the world, but now he showed them how perfect his love was." With these words St John begins the Passion narrative as he recounts in great detail what happened at the Last Supper and afterwards. He presents the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus as an act of love. "No man has greater love than this, to lay down his life for his friends".

Having shown the depth of that love on the Cross and in the Empty Tomb, Jesus asks Peter, in spite of denial and abandonment, "Do you love me?" Christ's love for us sinners never fails. It is a merciful and forgiving love, a sacrificial and saving love, for Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God who takes away our sins. He is our Saviour and Redeemer.

On Maundy Thursday the Church celebrates the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass twice. In the evening every parish and religious community celebrates the first great act of the Triduum, the commemoration of the Lord's Supper: the institution of the Eucharist, the washing of the disciples' feet, the betrayal of Judas, the agony in the garden, the arrest and trial of Jesus.

In the morning, however, in cathedrals throughout the world, people, priests and bishops, all together, celebrate the Chrism Mass during which the Holy Oils are consecrated and the clergy renew their ordination promises to faithfully preach and live by the Gospel and to serve the people of God through the celebration of the sacraments. The Chrism Mass emphasises the unity of the Church, centred on the person of Christ, the Anointed One. Few Catholics have ever been to a Chrism Mass, which is a great pity. I wish it could be celebrated occasionally in a different church, just to give people the chance.

The whole Church is the Body of Christ. He is our head and we are his members. It is through faith and baptism that we are united in Christ, but that faith and baptism are given us through the ministry of the Church. Jesus said to Peter, "Feed my lambs. Tend my sheep." Christ's Vicar, the Successor of Peter, is the focus of unity for the universal Church, while the local Church, the diocese, is focussed on its bishop and each parish on its priest. The Christian priesthood is one of service, bishops, priests and deacons being conformed to Christ, who gave his life for the salvation of the world. "This is my body which is given for you. This is my blood that is shed for you."

The Holy Oils can only be consecrated by the bishop in union with his priests, a consecration that signifies and at the same time brings about the unity of the Church. When the oils are used in the celebration of the sacraments, we proclaim and bring about the unity of the Church, "one Lord, one faith, one baptism". Depending on that unity we celebrate the Eucharist, in which we enter fully into communion with Christ, and in Christ and through the Holy Spirit with the Father. That is why in the Catholic Church in the Eucharistic Prayer we always pray for the pope and the bishop by name: Benedict, our pope, and Peter, our bishop. The unity of the Church is not a notion or a mere hope, it is a fact: Jesus chose the Twelve by name, with them he celebrated the Last Supper, their feet he washed.

Tonight, as every Maundy Thursday, the Holy Oils consecrated this morning in the cathedral at Cardiff` will be brought to the altar in procession and presented to us for our use at the Easter Vigil and throughout the year. The Oil of the Sick brings with it Christ's compassion and healing power. With the Oil of Catechumens Christ strengthens those preparing for baptism against the snares of the devil and the power of evil. Through anointing with Holy Chrism Christ bestows on us the gifts of the Spirit and consecrates us to worship God in spirit and in truth.

Jesus really has shown us how perfect is his love. When he washed his disciples' feet, he said, "If I do not wash you, you can have nothing in common with me." In Christ the Father has given us everything he has. The fullness of life, which Christ came to bring, springs from the very mystery of the Incarnation and culminates in his Passion, Death and Resurrection. Through the sacraments: the water of baptism, the oil of anointing, bread and wine transformed into his Body and Blood, we become one with Christ, so that from now on nothing, absolutely nothing, can separate us from the love of God made visible in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Tonight we have come together simply to say thank you to God. Thank you for creating us, loving us, forgiving us, redeeming us and giving us eternal life. Thank you for the Church and the Sacraments and our life in Christ. "I have come that you may have life and have it to the full." May we be worthy of that life and may all men and women open their hearts and minds to receive that gift of love, for "where is love and loving kindness, God is there."

He had always loved those who were his own in the world, but now, today, at this very moment, in you and in me, he shows how perfect that love is. Praised be Jesus Christ. Amen.