Holy Thursday, Mass of the Lord's Supper

April 6, 2023

 Liturgy of the Word -- Ex. 12:1-8, 11-14; Ps. 116:12-13, 15-16, 17-18; 1 Cor. 11:23-26; Jn. 13:1-15. 

 1. Some Notes from the ORDO -- * The tabernacle should be empty at the beginning of Holy Mass. * At the place of Reposition, it is not allowed to expose the Blessed Sacrament in a monstrance or even in a ciborium. * The faithful are encouraged to adore the Blessed Sacrament for a suitable period during the night. 

 2. Some Notes on Holy Thursday -- Also known as Maundy Thursday, Holy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus before his Passion, Death, and Resurrection. It also commemorates the Washing of the Feet. "Maundy" comes from the Latin word, " mandatum, " -- mandate or commandment, and reflects the words of Jesus, "I give you a new commandment" (Jn. 13:34). 

 3. The Last Supper provides the biblical basis for the Sacrament of the Eucharist. It took place in the week of the Passover. During the meal, Jesus foretells his betrayal by one of his Apostles. The betrayal would commence his own "passover" to the Father. 

 4. Several sites in Jerusalem claim to be the Cenacle or Coenaculum in Latin, the place of the "coena" or supper, the Upper Room. 

 5. The Holy Thursday Mass features the singing of Glory to God, accompanied by the ringing of bells. The bells are then silent until the Easter Vigil. The services conclude with the transfer of the Blessed Sacrament to the place of Reposition. The agony in the garden begins. And the altar is stripped bare. 

 6. 1st Reading, Ex. 12:1-8, 11-14 -- The Lord instructs Moses and Aaron to tell the whole Israelite community to celebrate the Passover meal every year. This is to memorialize the action of the Lord in saving the Israelites from captivity in Egypt. The Lord describes how the meal, featuring the paschal lamb, is to be prepared and eaten, with some of its blood applied to the doorposts of each house (vv. 3-8). "This day will be a remembrance for you which your future generations will celebrate with a pilgrimage to the Lord; you will celebrate it as a statute forever" (v. 14). On the night of the Passover, the Lord struck down every first born, but "passed over" every house marked by the blood of the lamb (vv. 12-13). 

 7. Resp. Ps. 116:12-13, 15-16, 17-18 -- The Psalmist thanks the Lord for saving him from mortal danger. "How can I repay the Lord for all the great good done for me? I will raise the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the Lord" (vv. 12-14). "I will offer a sacrifice of praise and call on the name of the Lord" (v. 18). 

 8. 2nd Reading, 1 Cor. 11: 23-26 -- Paul's narrative of the Institution of the Eucharist. Paul's story of the Last Supper antedates that of the Synoptics and is the earliest written account. Paul says that he received the account from the Lord (see v. 23). "The Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, 'This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me'" (vv. 23-24). "In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.' For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes" (vv. 25-26). 

 9. Paul emphasizes Jesus' action of self-giving, expressed in his words over the bread and the cup, and in his double command to repeat his action. In this double command is the institution of the priesthood. Priests are to do the whole eucharistic action of Christ. 

 10. Gospel, Jn. 13:1-15 -- The Washing of the Disciples' Feet. "Before the feast of the 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" (v. 1). For John the Last Supper took place "before the feast of Passover," while in the Synoptics, the meal took place on the feast itself, Thursday. 

 11. Judas, son of Iscariot, has already decided to betray Jesus (v. 2). Fully aware that he "had come from God and was returning to God," Jesus rose from supper and began washing the feet of the Apostles and drying them with a towel (vv. 3-5). But Simon Peter said, "You will never wash my feet." Jesus told him, "What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later.... Unless I wash you, you wil have no inheritance with me" (vv. 6-8). So Peter said, "Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well." 

 12. But Jesus told him, "Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed..., so you are clean, but not all." Jesus was referring to Judas (vv. 9-11). When he had finished, 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 you should also do" (vv. 12-15). The Washing of the Feet, an act of love and humble servanthood, is the practical demonstration of the Eucharist. 

 13. Prayer -- O God, before he was crucified for our sake, your Only Begotten Son entrusted to the Church the banquet of his love, a sacrifice, new for all eternity. Grant, we pray, that we may have fullness of charity and of life from this great Mystery. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. 

 Prayers, stay safe, God bless!