Tonight, after the homily, you will witness a priest and deacon follow Jesus’ example of serving others. Many of us may be like Peter who was shocked at what was going on; Jesus, the Son of God, who stooped down to wash his disciples’ feet, unthinkable. If He is Master, Teacher, and Lord, but he humbled himself and washed his disciples’ feet, so we have to wash feet of each other. Do you see the tragic problem in this episode? The tragic problem is, like Peter; we struggle to accept God’s way of love in our daily life. We want Jesus to listen to our prayers; stubborn enough, we sometimes think our way is right and God’s way is wrong. I call it a tragic problem because our ways and our thinking are selfish and lead to destruction of our eternal life. We often are stuck in our own needs, but not of others. Peter had learned a big lesson of humility and love on that night, so do we? During these three important days, we all should look upon Jesus to see how he surrendered; how he became a sacrifice Lamb to his Father for the salvation of the world. So the first lesson is: we should let the Word of God, the love of God guide our thoughts, our decisions and our life, not the other ways around.

Secondly, in the last Supper, Jesus instituted two sacraments; the Holy Order and the Eucharist. In the second reading, Saint Paul recalled: “on the night he was handed over, took bread, and after he had given thanks, broke it, and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying,” this cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this in remembrance of me.” Saint John has used the whole chapter six to teach about Eucharist. For example, in John 6:51, Jesus said: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” Then in John 6:53 he said: “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.” Do you see how important the Eucharist is to our Catholic faith?

Dear friends in Christ, what is the Last Supper about? You may ask. The Last Supper is about one thing: “LOVE”. Saint John begins this passage by saying: “He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end.” Eucharist is about “Divine Love.” The world accepts his love and salvation or not, God’s love is still poured out to the world. It is a human tragedy when 70% of Catholics do not believe in the Real Presence in the Eucharist or do not understand what they are receiving. The lesson is in Saint John gospel: we will act like Judas if we receive the Holy Communion without faith or without understanding of His Love. Judas after receiving the morsel from Jesus’ hand, he left the room immediately and it was dark. This evening and all the days of our life, each of us should renew our faith in Eucharist. We believe the sacrifice of the Mass is the same sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross, in Golgotha two thousand years ago, except in a bloody manner. The sacrifice of the Mass brings the same spiritual effects to our souls and to the world as Jesus died on the cross. So, tonight and every day in our life, we should have more respect and love for the Eucharist. Ask yourselves what you can do to express your reverence and your love to the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ? There are things the Church wants us to do with the Holy Communion: making an act of thanksgiving after you received the Holy Communion, don’t just walk out right after you receive Him. Going to confession more regularly; visiting the Blessed Sacrament in the church whenever you have time.

Dear Candidates and elect, you will participate with us in the Eucharistic fully on Easter vigil night. I invite you to reflect deeply how the Lord loves you through the sacraments you will receive. If people ask you why you go to Mass on Sunday and what do you receive at Mass? You should profess boldly without fear: We are receiving the Body and Blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ at Mass. We receive his love.

The Church Fathers said: no priests, no Eucharist; no Eucharist, no Church. Tonight and every day in our life, we also pray for the increase of vocation of the priesthood around the world. We pray for more good and faithful priests after our savior’s heart.