On Palm Sunday I spoke about the scene from Mark’s gospel in which an unnamed woman poured out costly perfume on the head of Jesus. It was an extravagant gesture, described by Jesus as her anointing of his body for burial. Today we focus more closely on Jesus’ extravagant gesture—pouring himself out as food for the Church. He had already set aside his honors by washing the feet of his disciples. Then he patiently endured the presence Juda at table plotting to betray even as they ate. What more could Jesus do? Could he humble himself any further?
Well, of course, the answer is yes. His love always reaches deeper. He always takes a lower place so that whatever depths we find ourselves in, he has already gone lower to meet us there. This is what we celebrate today. Our Lord pours himself out further to draw us closer to himself: first, by pouring out his very self into a bit of bread and wine; and second, by manifesting how close God is to us by revealing his holy name.
Today’s responsorial psalm points to these two outpourings: “I will take up the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord.” The cup of salvation that the psalmist refers to is the blessing cup offered in thanksgiving for the mighty works of God. Jesus prays this psalm with the same sentiments—gratitude for the mighty works of his Father. At the same time, I think Jesus has another cup in mind: namely, the cup that led him to say, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Take this cup away from me, but not what I will but what you will.” He takes up this cup of suffering for our sakes. We, too, must take up this cup, both the cup of gratitude for God’s mighty works and the cup that shares in Christ’s sufferings.
The psalmist then goes on to say, “I will call on the Lord’s name.” Pope Benedict comments that when the Scriptures refer to the name of the Lord, it is a way of speaking about God’s nearness. Knowing the name of someone, calling the name of someone brings that person near. Jesus reveals the nearness of God. He and the Father are one. He emphasizes this in his final discourse to his disciples, saying things like: “I revealed your name to those whom you gave me out of the world.” “Holy Father keep them in your name which you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are one.” “I made known to them your name, and I will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them.” Jesus pours out the store of his most intimate knowledge and relationship with the Father and the Spirit so that we, too, can speak familiarly with the Lord.
On this day of the institution of the Eucharist, we are witnessing how far Jesus will go to draw us into the mystery God’s nearness. It is an extravagant gesture. He will stop at nothing to pour himself out on our behalf.
