Christians and even non-Christians know something about Good Friday and Easter Sunday. But we also know the day that precedes these two days, i.e. MAUNDY THURSDAY. It is also referred to as Holy Thursday or Thursday of the Supper of the Lord. The word \u2018Maundy\u2019 is a shortened form of the Latin word \u201cMandatum\u2019 which means \u2018Command\u2019, reflecting Jesus\u2019s words, \u201cA New Commandment I give you, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you must love one another.\u201d Thus, Jesus raised the definition of Love to a new and higher standard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maundy Thursday is one of the most important days in the Church\u2019s year and includes all the most significant elements of the Gospel in which we trust, namely, Institution of the Holy Eucharist, the Commandment to Love and Serve, and Holy Priesthood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Holy Eucharist:<\/strong> On Maundy Thursday, Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist, using two of the frailest elements \u2013 Bread and Wine \u2013 as symbols of His Body and Blood, and established them to be the monuments of His Death, in order that His Sacrifice on the Cross may never be forgotten. He entrusted to the Church a daily reminder of His Death and Resurrection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n Commandment to Serve:<\/strong> Again, on Maundy Thursday, Jesus washed the feet of His 12 Apostles (24 feet), in deep humility. Thereafter He walked to and prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane sweating blood. He yielded to betrayal and an unjust arrest. His trial began at night; it led to His crucifixion, which led to His Resurrection. This is the reason we are alive today and know that we have an \u2018eternal life\u2019 with Jesus someday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Holy Priesthood<\/strong> was established by Jesus at the Last Supper he had with His Apostles, when He asked them to continue His Ministry. On the night of the Last Supper, Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it and gave it to them saying, \u201cThis is my Body which is given up for you. Do this in remembrance of me.\u201d Likewise with the cup (Lk22:19-20).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Holy Priesthood is the Power and Authority given by Jesus to His Apostles, to act in His Name. Priests act as Mediators between God and His people, offering prayers, sacrifices and other acts of worship on behalf of the community. As a Priest consecrates Bread and Wine, through the Power of the Holy Spirit, we receive the Super-Substantial presence of the Body and Blood of Jesus. Therefore, everything connected with Jesus, namely His Soul and His Divinity is what we receive in Holy Communion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Eucharist is the Whole Christ presented to us in the form of Bread and Wine. Only a Bishop or Priest can consecrate the Eucharist. The transformed Bread and Wine is TRULY the Body and Blood of Jesus. Though to us the Bread and Wine appear the same, they are the REAL Body and Blood of Jesus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the Eucharist Jesus gives Himself to us because He loves us. Jesus is present in the bread whole and entire and in each of their parts. Receiving the Eucharist daily \u2013<\/p>\n\n\n\n Helps us to remember our Lord\u2019s Death and Resurrection and look for His Glorious return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We celebrate the life of Jesus; how He gave Himself completely, in order to give us a fresh relationship with God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cleanses us from past sins and strengthens us against future sins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Provides strength and nourishment to fulfill our daily tasks and to live for Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Helps us to profess our faith to ourselves and others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Confirms Jesus\u2019s promise in Mt.28:20 \u201cI am with you always, till the end of time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In John 6: 54 Jesus says, \u201cHe who eats my flesh and drinks my blood, has eternal life and I will raise him up on the last day.\u201d In verse 56 Jesus says, \u201cHe who eats my flesh and drinks my blood, abides in me and I in him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n A word of caution \u2013 In 1Cor11:27-28 St. Paul includes a statement that is not found in the Gospels. He says, \u201cWhoever therefore eats the bread and drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a man examine himself and so eat the bread and drink of the cup.\u201d To receive Communion \u2018in an unworthy manner\u2019 is to disregard the true meaning of the Bread and the Cup and forget the tremendous price Our Saviour paid for our salvation. It means to treat Holy Communion as a formality or a dead ritual; or to come to the Lord\u2019s Supper with unconfessed sin. St. Paul says, \u201cHe eats and drinks judgment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n We observe Maundy Thursday in commemoration of the institution of the Holy Eucharist during the Last Supper. This is done in the church at an evening liturgy with general communion. The hosts are consecrated for the Communion on Good Friday. The ceremony of the Washing of the Feet is performed by the Celebrant who ceremonially washes the feet of 12 persons in memory of Christ washing the feet of His Apostles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Eucharist is also referred to as the Holy Mass. It is the Source and Summit of Christian life. The sacrifice of Christ also becomes also our sacrifice who are the members of His body. Our lives with all our prayers, works, joys and sufferings are united with those of Christ in the Mass at the Offertory. When we receive Jesus our lives are transformed to become Christs to others. Let us always remember that Jesus\u2019s Supreme Sacrifice on the Cross has brought us salvation, that one day we may be with Him in Paradise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Have a Blessed and Sacred Holy Week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n -J. Rodrigues<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Christians and even non-Christians know something about Good Friday and Easter Sunday. 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