Tonight I want to thank you for being here.

I’m not really thanking you on behalf of Fr. Tom, Fr. Billy and myself. Not even on behalf of Bishop Ger!

No, I’m thanking you on behalf of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

My mother always said that she’d kill me if she ever heard me thank people for attending Mass! She’d say shaking her head in disbelief; “imagine thanking people for attending Mass.” Rather, she believed people should be thanking God for the privilege of attending Mass.

But tonight, I’m more interested in thanking you on behalf of the Holy Trinity – for being here.

On the night before he died – that is tonight – Jesus took bread and wine and celebrated the first Mass directing us to “do this in memory of me.”

Do you think our “doing this” tonight matters in Heaven?

Do you think that not doing it tonight matters in Heaven?

If it doesn’t matter why did Jesus do it? Why did he take bread and wine at all?

Do you think that when tomorrow comes remembering or not remembering his passion and death matters in Heaven?

The fact that many will live this day as any other – without acknowledging Jesus and all that he requested us to do, just not taking Jesus seriously – is a source of deep sorrow 🙁 in Heaven.

But the fact that you are here tonight remembering what happened on that first Holy Thursday night – doing as he requested – means that you are bringing great consolation and joy to the heart of the Holy Trinity.

It’s treasure you’ve now stored up in Heaven.