This night, gathered in a small dimly lit room, Jesus gives is the two most essential gifts or "things" He could ever give us: The Eucharist and the Priesthood
The disciples had no idea what Christ had up His sleeve that night; only Judas had a hint of what was to transpire after the meal, but Christ knew and He was prepared. He knew that one of His closest friends was going to betray Him; He knew that He was going to be plucked from every comfort and security he had in this world; He knew that this was going to be the last meal he would share with those He loved; He knew He was about to suffer a tortuous end to His life; He knew He had to act!
Going to the cross was going to win for us salvation; it was going to defeat darkness, sin and death itself, but it was still going to leave us as a fallen people, still bound to the affects and enslavement of sin. He was going to leave us a means to experience and taste His love, mercy and intimacy after He left this earth. He was leaving us a way to taste our salvation: The Eucharist and the Priesthood!
This night, in that dim room, Christ gave his beloved twelve a model to follow. He, God made man, got on His knees and washed to feet of sinful, weak and imperfect men - Even Judas who was about to betray Him and the other ten who abandoned Him. He gave them a model of total self-surrender, total self- gift, total self-sacrifice of themselves for others.
He showed them that to be a priest was no longer about sacrificing goats and pigeons - it was about sacrificing yourself. He showed them that what He was doing and about to do was the new model for priestly service and way of life. He showed them that sacrificing the True Lamb was the only sacrifice capable bringing salvation. He showed them the model by which, men chosen from their peers by God, would give others the body and blood of Christ by sacrificing their own everyday.
No glitz, no glamour, no status or honor was he bestowing on them - He was calling these men to die so others may have life. The priesthood was no longer a sterile or apathetic position among men - NO - The priesthood was now about dying for the life of men! Each one of these disciples in that room that night was called to the cross - Each of those men realized that the greatest way of love was to deny themselves and give everything you have for another.
It is only this sacrifice and this love that suffices the cravings of the soul!
Acknowledging this reality, each Catholic man not married needs to ask himself, needs to pray about, needs to ponder this priesthood and if he is being called and chosen from among men for this sacrifice. The world cannot survive without priests giving us the Eucharist and forgiving our sins and being a man on the boundary of creation and Creator. Each man needs to talk with Christ and others so he may know if he is in this world for it's salvation. Each man here tonight and elsewhere: Are you being called to follow this model of Christ and sacrifice yourself so others may taste and experience their salvation?
Without priests, there is no Eucharist; without priests, there is no sacraments; where there is no Eucharist or sacraments, there is no Church for people to come and experience first hand their salvation and the love and sacrifice that every soul needs and craves. It is essential and not optional!
This night, Christ lays down the foundation for chosen men to lay down their lives because of love.
This night, Christ takes His new priests and gives us His very flesh and His very blood.
This night, we receive the two most tangible and eternal gifts and signs of our salvation and the love that conquered death.
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