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Holy Thursday
MAUNDY THURSDAY
Maundy Thursday honors the memory of the final Passover Jesus celebrated as his Last Supper with his Apostles. Maundy Thursday gets its name from a Latin Church Anthem, the first line of which reads, Mandatum novum do vobis, or "a new commandment I give to you" (John 13:34). The Latin Mandatum is corrupted to the English Maundy.
JESUS' BOUNDLESS REDEMPTIVE LOVE
Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father.
He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end.
'The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand him over. So during supper, fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God, he rose from supper and took off his outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and dry them with the towel around his waist..'
This was the night before he suffered. This was the night, a few hours later, one of his trusted Apostle, Judas Iscariot would sell Jesus off for thirty pieces of silver and even have the audacity to betray Him with a 'kiss'. This was the night before all the trusted friends, His Apostles who had professed their faith and loyalty to Him even to go to death with Him, would run away, desert Him, and Peter would even deny Him, not once but three times, that he ever knew Him or was associated with Him.
At this solemn Mass, the Church re-enacts Jesus' washing the feet of his Apostles. The Church is invited to ponder on this event in the Upper room:
Reflections for Holy Thursday: www.youtube.com/watch?v=uN_l1lAy-XY
"Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me 'teacher' and 'master', and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do." (John 13-14-15).
THE MASS OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
We remember the Passover: We wash feet and ponder on Jesus. The symbolic act of foot washing signifies far more than a simple act of hospitality or of humble service. It is a parabolic enactment of the meaning of Jesus’ death: his willing relinquishment of his life for those he loves.
The willingness to go to the very depths of a calamity for another is not dependent on that one reciprocating the love, as is evident from Jesus’ washing of Judas’ feet as well as those of Peter.
It is in this context, that we recall and experience Jesus institute the Eucharist. The celebration of Holy Thursday today brings to mind the words of the institution of the Eucharist:
And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them saying,
"This is my body given for you;" do this in remembrance if me.
In the same way, after the supper, He took the cup, gave thanks and said,
"This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you."
Do this in memory of me.
(Lk 22:19-20).
We give thanks and praise to God for His mercy and gratuitous redemption.
The New Covenant is forged at the Last Supper and fulfilled with Jesus’ Resurrection.
Schedule for the day
7:00pm: The Mass of the Lord’s Supper & Washing of Feet
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at the altar of repose until 10:00pm.
