Maundy Thursday – 02nd April 2026
Dear brothers and sisters,
Tonight we enter a very intimate moment of the Gospel. We are no longer on the roads, no longer in the middle of crowds. We are in a room, at a table, at supper, with Jesus and his disciples. It is the night when Jesus knows he is going to die. And what does he do? He does not give a long speech. He does not perform a spectacular miracle. He makes three simple gestures that remain with us even today: he gives us the Eucharist, he gives us the Priesthood, and he teaches us how to serve by washing the feet of his disciples.
The Gospel tells us that Jesus “loved them to the end.” Not until it became difficult. Not until he was betrayed. But to the end. To the Eucharist. To the cross.
At supper, Jesus takes bread and says, “This is my body.” He takes the cup and says, “This is my blood.” He does not say, “This is a symbol.” He says, “This is me.” Jesus knew that people would need to feel that he is close, not only to remember him. So, he found a way to remain with us: the Eucharist.
That is why Holy Thursday is the day when we received one of the greatest gifts: the presence of Jesus in Holy Communion. Every time we come to Mass and receive Communion, we do not receive something – we receive Someone. We receive Jesus.
But on the same evening, Jesus did another thing: he stood up from the table, took a towel, and began to wash the feet of his disciples. This was the work of a servant, the lowest servant. Peter does not understand and says, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” And Jesus answers, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” What does this mean? It means that the Eucharist and service cannot be separated. I cannot receive Jesus in my heart and then not serve the person next to me. I cannot come to the altar and then go home and have no patience, not forgive, not help. Jesus shows us tonight what God is like: God kneels down. God washes feet. God loves in silence.