TWENTY-FOURTH DAY OF LENT

Then Jesus took a cup, and after giving thanks He said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” Then He took a loaf of bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And He did the same with the cup after supper, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. – Luke 22:17-20

After the thanksgiving then comes the sharing, two spiritual aspect of the “Justice Christianus“.  In Christ, we are thankful for the justice that is tempered with mercy; in Christ, we share in the justice from which none of us is exempt.

We are thankful for the justice that makes things right and we share in the responsibility for keeping this justice as a community of God’s people.  This is not the autocratic justice of tyrants and dictators, not this is the justice of a covenant people, covenanting with each other and covenanting with our Maker.

In this communion of Maundy Thursday, we enter into a sacred covenant to share in the life and life’s work of the Life now shared amongst us.  In this communion of Maundy Thursday, we enter into a sacred covenant to share in both the self-sacrificing Love and in the ultimately glory of a New Realm.  In this communion of Maundy Thursday, we enter into a sacred covenant to both be merciful and just.  It is not about power, it is not about control, this “Justice Christianus”, but rather it is the willingness to pay the price for making all things right.

Because of trust in the form of justice brought into this world by Christ, we live as a thankful people and we live as a sharing people.  This “Justice Christianus” goes counter to the survival of the fittest or the survival of the wealthiest or the survival of the political powerful … but for the salvation of us all.

Always in Christ’s Service,

Fr. Charitas de la Cruz