Worded by Father Michael McGrath St Mel’s Cathedral (2022 April)

Breaking bread and washing feet—

In the reading from St Paul for the Mass of the Lord’s supper we hear the earliest account of what happened on the night before Jesus died. Here we have words that are familiar to everyone who celebrates around the Table of The Lord every Sunday: “The Lord Jesus took some bread, and thanked God for it and broke it, and he said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this as a memorial of me’. In the same way he took the cup after supper, and said, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Whenever you drink it, do this as a memorial of me.’

The evangelist John doesn’t speak of the actions over the bread and cup, no mention of the taking, the blessing, the breaking or sharing. John gives the account of the Washing of the feet of the Disciples. Doing this in memory of Jesus makes the Eucharist alive beyond the Altar, and extends the Sanctuary to our Monday-to-Saturday lives. Breaking Bread and Washing Feet, that’s how we make Jesus present.

There’s a sense of homecoming about our celebration of the Easter Triduum this year after two years in exile from Easter worship because of pandemic. Celebrating Holy Thursday in 2022 bids us name Christ’s un-haloed presence in all medical personnel; nurses and doctors, care attendants and ambulance staff, support teams and emergency personnel, researchers, shop assistants and farmers and many others, who serve us well. When we ask where God is, the words of an ancient hymn for this night remind us: ‘Where charity and love abide there is God’ – Ubi caritas et amor Deus ibi est.’