Holy Thursday - the Feast of the Lord's Supper
- Logan Fude
- Apr 14, 2022
- 3 min read
Today is Holy Thursday! There are always those days during lent when I am craving sweets and it feels like lent will never be over, but then I get to Holy Thursday and I can't figure out where lent went! Poof! 40 days, just like that!
We celebrate so many things today it is hard to wrap my mind around it all.
The Eucharist
First, we celebrate Jesus's last supper with his friends and the institution of the Eucharist. While the Eucharist is celebrated at every mass, it's especial celebration on Holy Thursday carries a certain solemn atmosphere. Last December I lost my great-grandmother, and I will never forget sitting with her in the hospital hours before she passed. While the disciples were likely clueless about what was all going on on that Thursday so many years ago, Jesus knew. Despite warning the disciples time and time again that he must suffer and die, the apostles would soon be asleep in the garden, which leads me to believe they didn't understand the gravity of what was going on. When the apostles heard, "Do this in memory of me." Did they know that that supper would be reenacted all over the world in thousands of churches every day (or hour)?
Humble Servitude
"Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. And during supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper, laid aside his garments, and tied a towel around himself. Then he pointed water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him." (John 13:1-5)
Some of you may know that I have been reading and following Matthew Kelly's Generosity Habit. I am not sure if they intentionally released "I Will Serve" on Holy Thursday or not, but it really brings into perspective a modern version of washing peoples' feet -- offering generous hospitality.
Priesthood
This one is sneaky and easy to miss. There are three things Jesus said that instituted the priesthood at the Last Supper.
"This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." (Luke 22:19)
"This chalice which is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood." Luke 22:20)
"For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you." (John 13:15)
The first two quotes from Jesus echo the Levitical priesthood of the old testament. In addition, Jesus had just washed their feet. The disciples would have been well aware of the ritual washings that went on in the temple by the priests. With the last quote above, Jesus was commanding them to take on a new kind of priestly duties.
There is more to the institution of the priesthood that dives into Greek translations and deep knowledge of the old testament, and I am not qualified to write on either of those topics. If you in reading more, please see the link below to a VERY well done article by Catholic Answers on this topic.
I wish you all a blessed Holy Thursday, and I hope that this information helps bring you deeper into the mystery of the Holy Triduum.
P.s. Don't forget that tomorrow (Good Friday) is a day of fasting and abstinence!
Your Essential Guide to the Triduum:
Holy Thursday/The Last Supper:
Did Jesus Make the Apostles Priests at the Last Supper?
Bible passages taken from the Great Adventure Bible, RSV 2nd ed.
Comments