Reading: Matthew 26:17-20, Matthew 26:26-30
“My appointed time draws near.”
In this statement, we see that Jesus was clearly very aware of his impending death, but we also see that that death was not something imposed on him by human beings. The sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross for our salvation was eternally ordained by God the Father from the very beginning of time. The time appointed now draws near for Jesus, and he is ready to accept the Father’s will. That begs the question of us, how well have we observed Lent now that Jesus’ appointed time draws near? In just nine days, we’ll be into Holy Week. These days of Lent, for me, have just flown by, and now we’re gathering at the end of it. The appointed time draws near. Have we been faithful to our Lenten resolutions of fasting, almsgiving and prayer? Have we grown in our spiritual lives this Lent? Where has God taken us this Lent, and have we gone willingly with him?
The recounting of the Last Supper in the Gospel reading this evening reminds me of these past few days. Our parish just finished observing Forty Hours of Eucharistic adoration and devotion. We gathered for Mass, adored the Lord, prayed various prayer services and heard some witness talks. Many graces have been received and we don’t even know what all of those graces will be yet. But we do rejoice that, knowing that his appointed time was near, Jesus gave us the most Precious gift of the Eucharist: his own Body and Blood, to nourish us and to be his Real Presence in the world until the end of time.
In these remaining few days of Lent, even if we have time for nothing else, may we take some time to be grateful to our Lord for his gift of the Eucharist, as he willingly gave his life for our salvation. The appointed time draws near.