This past year Pope Francis has certainly made an impact on the world as well as the church. Just a year ago he washed the feet of prisoners, women, and non-Christians, which turned out to be a hallmark of his papacy so far. It is easy to get caught up with his warmth and personality but that is to miss the power and impact of his message: service to the poor and underprivileged and outsiders of society. Pope Francis stepped into the flailing light of our church and has sparked anew hope and promise.

It is only appropriate that as we gather to celebrate The Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper, we reflect for a few minutes on that same message which Jesus so clearly spoke through his life and particularly at this Last Supper. As we will reenact shortly, Jesus stooped to wash the dirt from his disciples’ feet. This was a courtesy which the slave or servant performed for arriving guests; and yet Jesus purposefully takes on that role to teach the apostle the meaning of service. Now I am sure that no one in this church tonight has dusty feet, least of all those having their feet washed; but we are called to serve one another in any way that is needed. Jesus’ life was filled with encounters with the poor, the sick, the outcast and sinners, reaching out and giving them what they needed most. “As I have done for you, so you must do for one another”.

As Jesus celebrate this Passover Meal with his apostles, Jesus again services them by providing nourishment they didn’t even know they needed. He is about to leave them and walk into the garden and his hours of suffering and death and yet He thinks not of Himself but of their needs when He is gone from their midst. “This is my Body broken for you; this is my Blood poured out for you”. With those words Jesus insures them that He will remain with them all their days, through the ups and downs of the years to come, feeding them with the food that lasts into eternity.

Tonight we celebrate that we too are nourished and fed by that same Food: the Bread of Life and the Cup of Salvation. Jesus knows that we continue to hunger for more and that the only food that will satisfy is this Eucharist. Jesus insures that each time we gather around this table He will come into our midst and into our hearts.

As on that night so long ago, we too will walk out of this upper room and descend to the lower church where Jesus will repose on the altar of sacrifice and we will have the opportunity to sit with Him as we recall his night of agony and betrayal – again in the service of our salvation.