Holy Thursday at Work: How Things Have Changed Over the Past Two Years
It's Holy Thursday. Things have changed since last year, when we were just groping our way out of "Planet Lock-Down." That glimmer of light would lead us to draconian mandates along with the need of a passport if you wanted eat in a restaurant, among other things. But we didn't know that then. All we knew was that the year before there was no Holy Thursday liturgy for most of us. Churches were closed. So, from that perspective, things had improved.
It was something.
We can say the same thing this year, despite the trouble brewing that we noted last time. Having learned to just count my blessings and not fret about what may happen in the future, I'm just glad we're back on track - sort of - with Holy Week liturgies ready and waiting. As for the potential troubles, I'll do my best to be prepared.
So on to Our Lord's Last Supper.
Many of us who still have our jobs are working from home. Whether at home or in some work location, maybe we get to Mass today - most likely tonight - for that special liturgy reserved for Holy Thursday.
We might remind ourselves that Our Lord's Passion begins tonight with the Agony in the Garden. If we're able to attend Holy Thursday Mass, we'll be observing the custom of
reserving the Blessed Sacrament at
some place of honor - typically a side altar. That reminds us of Our
Lord in the Garden. But even if we're not at Mass, we can still think
about this. It
provides us with an opportunity to spend a few moments with Him as He
enters into His Agony. Recall that the side altar would typically be
decorated with candles and
flowers as a reminder of the Garden of Gethsemane.
When I commuted to work, I used to struggle with keeping myself
recollected on Holy Thursday. Now that I'm working from home, it's still
a struggle. The day can easily fly by without even a glancing thought
of Our Lord, the Last Supper, His looming Passion and Death. I've
struggled with this my whole life. Sure, it's gotten better. But
it's not quite "there" yet.
Then again, many work days pass with hardly a nod to
God. But I keep at it. Holy Week's the perfect time to really keep at it. Let's all do that on this Holy Thursday, wherever we are,
whatever our work situation might be. Agreed? Isn't this the least we
can do for Our Lord?
With that in hand, perhaps we can now consider going an extra mile.
After all, Our Lord walked the Via Dolorosa for us. We all know the
state of His Body as He put one foot in front of the other, so that
He could offer the supreme sacrifice for each and every on of us. Surely
we can push ourselves a bit more on this Holy Thursday.
In that spirit, here's something we've posted before on Holy Thursday
that offers us
questions we might consider as we approach Good Friday. Maybe we can
focus on one of these as we take a breather from our labors. We all take
breaks from time to time to re-energize. And it only takes a brief
moment or two try to answer one or more of these questions, related to
the Cross:
The Cross throws light upon every essential question that confronts
us. It is the interpretation of all things: How do I partake of the
Redemption? Why do the innocent suffer? Why do I have to suffer? How do I
profit by suffering? How should I view the goods of this earth? How
should I view the evil in the world? What is sin? Does it really offend
God? What effect does sin have upon the sinner? How do I fit prayer and
penance into my life? Why do I have to do penance? How do I make my life
worthwhile in the eyes of God? What is the meaning and purpose of life?
How do I maintain peace of soul amidst the trials and temptations of
life? What is peace? What is true love?
Here's a stab at "How do I fit prayer and penance into my life?":
Lent afforded us the chance to do this in special ways, even when we were working. Did we?
Were there moments, even during the busiest days, where we paused,
recollected ourselves and uttered a prayer - either of thanksgiving,
intercession, petition? Did we practice mortification at times during
the day - denying ourselves legitimate pleasures in reparation for sin?
Each of us should be able to answer this question quickly and simply.
Our answers will naturally reference the Cross, if we're thinking with
basic Catholic sensibility.
While many of those questions can be a bit intimidating, especially to
those of us who haven't spent a lot of time studying philosophy or
theology, they shouldn't be. Look at them in the light of the Cross.
That allows even the most unschooled of us to meditate meaningfully on
such important and profound subjects. Our Catholic Faith doesn't depend
on our knowledge of theology or philosophy. And our Catholic religion
can be understood without formal training in these disciplines.
Today, surrounded by the special graces Holy Thursday brings, we
can enter more deeply into those truths of our Holy Religion. By
recollecting ourselves we can strengthen our faith.
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