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So, let us rejoice as Jesus washes our feet and sets before us the Paschal Meal: rejoice in the cleansing waters of baptism and the cleansing tears of penance; rejoice in Jesus’ eucharistic gift of self in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the true presence of the One who loved us to the very end.

Less than 24 hours ago, this very Cathedral was packed with faithful from across the Archdiocese to celebrate our annual the Chrism Mass. In the midst of that joyful celebration, little could we have imagined the tragedy that would unfold four hours later, while most of us were asleep, as the cargo ship Dali unexpectedly hit the Key Bridge leading to its collapse. And so it is that we gather once again in this Cathedral church.

We are not alone. We journey together. Your presence this night in such great numbers testifies to this – our priests, deacons, religious, laity, seminarians and discerners.

Throughout history, many have willingly gone to their death for a good cause. What sets Jesus apart from every other hero in human history is that Jesus faces certain death, not merely for a good cause but to enter into the realm of sin and death itself, there to confront the powers of darkness.

This evening may our minds, our hearts, and senses be struck by the beauty of this sacred space and the beauty of these sacred rites.

That Jesus’ hour had arrived is made clear by the request of some Greek converts to Judaism to see Jesus. The prophets who preceded Jesus foretold that the hour of salvation would arrive when the Gentiles would also seek to be converted and to worship the living God.

The vows at the heart of religious life and the promises which I have made as a priest – these are not a boast that we are tougher or better than others in the Church, that we can “take it”, that we can lives differently from others.