Daily Catholic Lectio. Thu, 17 April ‘25. “Do This in Memory of Me”

Daily Catholic Lectio

Thu, 17 April ‘25

Mass of the Lord’s Supper

Maundy Thursday

Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26. John 13:1-15

“Do This in Memory of Me”

Memory as Encounter, Identity, and Mission

In a quiet chapel of an old monastery, there was a beautiful silver basin and pitcher—once used on Holy Thursday for the Washing of the Feet. They had been handcrafted centuries ago, polished with reverence, and used only once a year—on the night when Christ stooped low to wash the feet of His disciples.

It was said that one of the early abbots, moved by the Gospel, had declared:

“This basin is not just for ritual. It is for remembrance.

And remembering must lead to imitating.”

So, every year, the basin was used not only in liturgy, but also taken afterward into the streets—where the monks would visit the sick, wash the feet of the poor, and care for the dying. It became the soul of their mission.

But as generations passed, the silver grew fragile. Fearing it might tarnish or crack, the monks decided to preserve it. They placed the basin on a high shelf in the sacristy, encased in glass, engraved with the words:

“Do this in memory of me.”

It became an object of reverence, beauty, and history. But it was never used again.

Visitors admired it. Guides spoke of it. But no feet were washed, no poor were served, no towels were stained. The memory remained. The imitation faded.

A Reflection

On this holy night, Jesus kneels and says:

“I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.” (John 13:15)

The basin is not meant for shelves.

The memory is not meant for stories.

The Eucharist is not meant to remain only on the altar.

It must go forth—to the margins, to the wounds, to the neighbour.

Let us not preserve what Christ called us to practice.

Let us not admire what He commanded us to do.

Let every basin be filled again. Let every memory move us to mission.

Today becomes significant in four ways: (a) Today we commemorate the Last Supper of the Lord where he instituted the Eucharist; (b) Jesus gave us the new love commandment; (c) He instituted the ministerial priesthood; and (d) He washed the feet of his disciples and taught humility and service.

On this sacred night, we remember not only an event, but a Person. The memory we are invited into is not passive recollection, but a living participation in Christ’s saving love. The three readings illuminate how divine memory shapes us.

We were with Jesus in the upper room, and we are today recalling to it, in our memory. We are called to keep this community memory alive.

1. Memory as Sacred Encounter (Exodus 12:1–14)

God institutes the Passover as a perpetual remembrance of deliverance: “This day shall be a day of remembrance for you.” Memory here is not just historical—it is ritual, relational, and relived. Every Passover brings Israel back to that night of liberation.

Do I remember God’s saving acts in my life as living realities? Do I allow liturgy to reconnect me with God’s presence?

2. Memory as Eucharistic Identity (1 Corinthians 11:23–26)

Saint Paul hands on what he received: the Lord’s words at the Last Supper—“Do this in memory of me.” This memory is at the heart of Christian identity. The Eucharist is not just a commemoration; it is a real participation in the self-giving love of Christ.

When I celebrate the Eucharist, do I truly enter Christ’s offering? Do I remember with love, gratitude, and reverence?

3. Memory as Loving Service (John 13:1–15)

Jesus washes the feet of His disciples—then says, “You also ought to wash one another’s feet.” Memory becomes mission. To remember Jesus is to imitate Him—to make love visible in humility and service.

How do I live out the memory of Jesus daily? Do I bend low in service to others, as He did for me?

On this holy night, we do not merely recall the past. We enter the mystery. To remember Jesus is to:

– celebrate His saving presence,

– become what we receive in the Eucharist,

– and live His love through humble service.

Let every Mass we celebrate be a living memory that transforms our hearts and our world.

Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi

Archdiocese of Madurai

Missionary of Mercy