The apex of the Liturgical Year is the Easter Triduum which extends from Holy Thursday evening to the evening of Easter Sunday. The Triduum (three days) is an immersion into Christ’s Paschal Mystery; his passion, death and resurrection. And as his disciples we are called to plunge ourselves into this life, His life (The Paschal Mystery).  The word disciple  comes from the Greek word “Mathetes” which is a verb meaning “to learn.” A disciple is someone who follows Jesus, learning from him; someone who leaves the former way of life to imitate the master and embrace a new way of living.

The night before Christ died, Holy Thursday, Jesus spent the evening with his best friends, his disciples, the Apostles (John 13:1-15). He spent his last moments as their master teaching his disciples.  On Holy Thursday, over two thousand years ago, Christ instituted the Eucharist. The priesthood. The Mass. The Apostolic mission. But He also gave his Apostles, and all of us, this mission: to love as He loves.

Jesus tells us, ““I give you a new commandment, says the Lord: love one another as I have loved you” (John 13:34).  Bending down he washed the disciples’ feet telling them to do the same. “I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do” (John 13:15).

How does Jesus love? He serves. He offers himself, totally. Pope Benedict XVI writes, “Of the three Greek words for love—eros, philia (friendship) and agape—New Testament writers prefer the last” (Deus Caritas Est).  God’s agape is a is a love which is total.  It is a complete gift of self. There are no strings attached.

Jesus is remembered by many things, but how he loved totally giving His life is what changed the world!  We too will be remembered by how we love. May we be encouraged today and everyday to immerse ourselves in the life of Christ, so as His disciples we can love as he loves.

Paul George works as a speaker, writer and consultant and hosts a weekly national radio show and podcast, the Paul George show. He holds a Masters in Theology from University of Dallas. Paul resides in Lafayette, Louisiana with his wife of twenty years, Gretchen, and their four children.

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