In the Gospel for today, Jesus encounters a man who is blind.  Jesus asks him directly, "What do you want me to do for you?"  Imagine - a blank check from God!  The man asks 'to see', and that is granted him.  In reality, we have been asked that same question by God.  At our baptism, the minister asked us (or our parents or godparents), "What do you ask for?"  They replied, "Baptism".  Although we didn't know it at the time, we were asking God for the ability 'to see' with the eyes of faith.  Thus in baptism we were enlightened by Christ, and set on a path that leads to eternal life in Jesus Christ.  

In the first reading today, God tells Solomon: "Ask for whatever you wish and I will give it to you."  What did he ask for?  The gift of wisdom.  God was pleased with that request - and pleased that he did not ask for gold or silver or power.  We ought to ask for the same gift from God.  Wisdom does not refer to being smart; it is a gift given to us to help us to know and do God's will in all things.  

God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone."  Humanity was made for communion - with God and with one another.  We truly are "bone of our bone, flesh of our flesh".  The answer to the division that we are experiencing, as well as our feelings of alienation and loneliness, is in finding and cultivating community.  In order to have peace we must remember why we were created and what God wants for us all.

Jesus offers a corrective to his disciples (and to us) regarding his true purpose and nature.  Whereas his contemporaries were hoping for a Messiah who would dominate their enemies and establish a kingdom of power here on earth, Jesus teaches that he came to lay down his life for the salvation of the world. 

Perhaps we, too, have this false understanding of who the Lord is?  Many times we pray that God would "come down here" and fix everything.  However, that is not why Jesus came to earth, and that is not what he is about right now.  Rather, in all things God calls us to faithfulness.  Thy will be done!

Today's readings teach us about the Law of God.  Whereas we today may look at the law as being something negative, holding us back, God's Law gives us true freedom, freedom to know and serve our God.  This is the "goal" of the Law - to lead us to God.  The second reading from the Letter of St. James teaches: "Religion that is pure and undefiled is this: care for widows and orphans, and keeping oneself unstained by the world."

Just as Jesus raised the little girl to life in today's Gospel reading, he calls each of us to new life at every moment of our lives.  From the first reading, the Book of Wisdom: "God did not create death, nor does He delight in the destruction of the living".  Even though we experience sin, sickness, and death in this world, God wants us to LIVE, and through His Son He extends to us all an invitation to live eternally.

In the Gospel today, the disciples - in the boat with Jesus - are terrified in the face of a violent storm.  Jesus says to them, "Why are you terrified?  Where is your faith?"  He could say the same thing to all of us today (and in every age), because we tend to become frightened when difficulties come our way.  God is with us, however, and so we shall not fear.  Like the disciples, we are in this boat together, with Jesus Christ himself at our side.

What was it that thrust the Apostles out of the upper room where they were hiding in fear?  How did they get from abandoning Jesus when he was arrested to proclaiming his Gospel boldly and fearlessly?  It was, of course, the Holy Spirit that moved them outward.  Through baptism and confirmation, we have received the same Spirit, and ours is the same mission.

The cross of Christ, which we venerate especially today, is how God refashioned creation into the image and likeness of His Son - who was perfectly obedient and humble.  Ever since sin came into the world, God has been at work and His plan has unfolded over time.  The Sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the altar of the cross brought forgiveness to all, as well as the promise of eternal life.

Holy Thursday Mass begins the great liturgy, the Sacred Triduum, which continues on Good Friday and concludes with the Easter Vigil.  In today's liturgy we contemplate three mysteries:  1) The institution of the Eucharist; 2) The institution of the priesthood (both the ministerial priesthood and the common priesthood); and 3) The command of Our Lord to love one another.

We do all of this "in memory of Jesus."  When we "remember" Jesus and his words and actions in the Mass, we celebrate his real, true, and substantial presence in Word and Sacrament.