EMN
Dimapur, April 17
As the Catholic world observes the Passover events of the Holy Thursday, Bishop of Kohima, Rev. Dr. James Thoppil, has urged every Christian to be prepared for sacrificial sharing and self-giving love, if we are to live the examples of Jesus in our life.
Rev. Dr. James Thoppil has made call in his homily as the main celebrant during the celebration of the Passover events of the Holy Thursday at St. Joseph Church, Chumukedima, on April 17. The celebration of the Holy Thursday is a challenge to humble service.
The Bishop, in his introduction, reminded the congregation that on this day, the Church celebrates two important events, namely, the gift of the Eucharist and priesthood and the commandment to serve and love, celebrated in the context of the Jewish Passover Feast.
The Holy Eucharist is the lasting memorial left by Jesus to the Church, for which he also established the priesthood. Unlike the Jewish Passover celebration, when Jesus celebrated the Passover with his disciples for the last time on earth, there was no sacrifice of lamb because Jesus himself was the Lamb that was about to be sacrificed. At the Last Supper, Jesus took the bread, gave thanks, broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me” (1 Cor. 11:24). Then, he took the cup and said, “This cup is the New Covenant in Christ blood (Ex. 12:1-8, 11-14). Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me” (1 Cor. 11:25). For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.
In commemoration of the event, the Bishop also washed the feet of the twelve disciples (representatives) in imitation of Jesus act of humility and service. Further, the Bishop urged every Christian to be prepared for sacrificial sharing and self-giving love, if we are to live the examples of Jesus in our life. He concluded his remarks by quoting Winston Churchill who said, “We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.”
