Holy Thursday of the Lord’s Supper
The primitive Church celebrated Easter in its entirety solely during the Easter Vigil that lasted until Easter morning. Only in the 4th century was this celebration gradually distributed over three days as a Triduum that began with the Mass in Coena Domini and reached its peak in the Easter Vigil. It would begin Thursday evening because, according to the Jewish tradition, the day began the evening before. Thus, the solemnities and Sundays were already celebrated liturgically with Vespers of the evening before. The second reason is that in the Last Supper, Jesus sacramentally anticipated the gift of Himself that He would give on the cross.
According to Jewish law and custom, Jesus celebrated the Jewish feast of Passover with His disciples in remembrance of the liberation of Israel from slavery in Egypt. Within the setting of this banquet, Jesus instituted the Eucharist, the sacrament of salvation, and He instituted the ministerial priesthood. He did not limit Himself to saying words, but He performed a gesture that reveals the truest and deepest “meaning” of what He had just celebrated: the washing of the feet, that is, a service of love. This service was performed by slaves for their masters and their guests so their feet would be cleansed from the dust of the streets. Jesus, therefore, breaks the rules regarding domination and service. This, then, is the “code” to understand and live the Last Supper, obedient to Jesus’s words: “Do this in memory of me.” These words refer not only to the “repetition” of the deeds and words of the Last Supper regarding the Eucharist, but are an indication to “do this” in service, in mutual love, beginning with the least. This is the full meaning of the Eucharist.
May Holy Thursday thus become an open book, like a school of faith and Christian wisdom.
Before the feast of Passover, 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. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Master, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.” Jesus said to him, “Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over; so you are clean, but not all.” For he knew who would betray him; for this reason, he said, “Not all of you are clean.” So when he had washed their feet [and] put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, “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. (Jn. 13:1-15)
Prayer
Lord Jesus,
you anticipated your supreme act of love
for your disciples.
You summoned them to the Upper Room,
instituting the priesthood in this way.
You took the bread, the wine,
you gave thanks and gave them to them.
You rose, took off your garment, took a basin,
and washed their feet.
Summon.
Share.
Serve.
Three movements, Lord,
to teach me the logic of the Eucharist,
to teach me the logic of life.
Three movements, Lord,
interwoven together,
one revealing the other.
The Eucharist is present where there is fraternity.
Fraternity is present where there is sharing.
Sharing is present where there is service.
Service is done where together we make the Eucharist present.
From the cathedra of the Eucharist
You teach me, Lord,
the art of relationships,
the style of sharing,
the liberty of service.
Today, You invite me to Your table:
my heart, Lord, tells me that I am not worthy,
but You, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world,
only say the word, and I shall be healed.
(Father Andrea Vena)
