At the start of Holy Week, we arrive at the precipice of the Great legacies of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. These are, the establishment of His Bride the Church, the institution of the Priesthood, His example of service and humility in the washing of the feet of His apostles, and finally the establishment of the Holy Eucharist, which is Christ's greatest eternal legacy.
In the Eucharist, Jesus has bequeathed to us an eternal piece of His very self; His Body, Blood Soul and Divinity, ever present to continue to remind us that "I will be with you, even till the end of time". Even we, who live the everyday struggles of this world are promised discipleship with Christ. In the acts of the Apostles, St. Peter tells us, "This man God raised (on) the third day and granted that he be visible, not to all the people, but to us, the witnesses chosen by God in advance, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead". When we receive Our Lord in Holy Communion in a state of grace, we eat and drink with Him, and we become His new witnesses. The new witnesses whom He has chosen because of the greatest expression of Love, resulting form His ignominious death on the Cross and His Glorious Resurrection from the dead.
Even with this encouraging knowledge, we are still faced with a world on non belief, senseless violence, no regard for the Sanctity of life and yes, even genocide. The example of courage that the Ukrainian people have shown the world is nothing short of the courage of Christ Himself as he faced derision, abandonment, and the most senseless torture of those that previously placed Palms at the feet of the donkey that carried Him into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Christ told His Apostles in Gethsemane to "Pray that you are not put to the test". Ukrainians, a peaceful people, are now experiencing this test of abandonment, derision and torture. A people innocent like Christ Himself who offered no fight or curse to His murderers. Let us pray for these innocent who are being put to the test, as we enjoy this great joyful Blessing of Easter with our families and friends.
Happy Easter to All.
Br Robert Beneedict
