March 24 - Maunday Thursday: Jesus Our Bread

First Reading  Exodus 12:1-8,11-14
This day shall be a memorial feast for you, which all your generations shall celebrate
with pilgrimage to the LORD

Responsorial Psalm  Psalm116:12-13,15-18
Our blessing-cup is a communion with the Blood of Chris.

Second Reading  Corinthians11:23-26
For as often as you eat this bread and drinkthe cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.

Gospel Reading
John  13:1—15 

Today is the day of the"Maundy," the mandatum, "the new commandment" of love. Itis the special day of friendship, and the traditional ceremonies of the day -the washing of feet, the blessing of oils for the sick, and so on - allreinforce that thought. Above all, it is the day of the banquet, thecelebration of friends, in which our divine friend gives himself in theEucharist, that we may dwell in him, and he in us. It is the moment of friendsrejoicing together before the pain of tomorrow. Today is also the day whereJesus established the priesthood. Let us thank God for all these gifts for HisChurch.