Holy Thursday

Today April 2, 2015 Christians world wide celebrates Maundy Thursday also know as Holy Thursday.

Maundy Thursday is observed by Christians on the Thursday before Easter, which falls this year on April 2. "Holy Thursday," as it is also commonly known, marks the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with his apostles prior to his betrayal, trial and crucifixion as portrayed in the Christian gospels.

The name "Maundy Thursday" is derived from the Latin word mandatum meaning "commandment." The primary commandment of Jesus' message is found in the story of the Last Supper when Jesus humbles himself to wash the feet of his apostles prior to the traditional Passover meal, or Seder. Jesus then commands them to "Love one another as I have loved you" (John 13:34). In observance of this commandment, the act of feet-washing is often performed as part of Maundy Thursday church services.

Another important Christian ritual to come out of the Last Supper story is that of the Eucharist or Holy Communion. Described in all three of the synoptic gospels and expounded upon in Paul's epistle to the Corinthians, Christians take communion to replicate Jesus' giving of bread and wine to his apostles during their final meal together. While different denominations may maintain different specific interpretations of the ritual, many incorporate a special communion into the Maundy Thursday liturgy.

 Holy Thursday celebrates the anniversary of the Last Supper, the day in which the first ever Holy Eucharist was consecrated. The interesting thing about this is that Jesus and his disciples during the Last Supper were actually celebrating the Passover - a Jewish holiday that is still celebrated today (Keep in mind that this was before Christianity was formed, as Jesus himself formed it. Jesus was born into a Jewish family, community, and world. Many of the common religions we know of today didn't exist, such as Christianity, Islam, etc.) 

When Jesus broke the bread, (the bread that they used at that time period was not induced with yeast, so it wasn't soft; it was capable of being broken. That is how the bread-like substance that is consecrated today is formed). Anyway, as I was saying, Jesus broke the bread, and he said "Take it and eat. This is my body. Do this in memory of me." And he did the same thing to the wine: "Take, and drink. This is my blood. Do this in memory of me." By saying these words, Jesus had not only begun the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, but he also instituted the priesthood, which still is a working system within the church today. Jesus said: "Take and eat. This is my body..." By his saying this, we are able to understand that Jesus had filled this bread with God's real presence; and that by eating of it, we will be able to spend eternity with Christ in heaven. Then Jesus said: "...Do this in memory of me." By his saying this, his disciples understood that they were being called to literally do it again, in memory of him. That was how the priesthood came to be - so Jesus's disciples could feed others with his holy food, just as he had fed his disciples.

That is why every Sunday at Mass, your priest will reenact these words, just as Jesus said them - because these few words were so important to the beginning to the Christian faith. That is also why we celebrate Holy Thursday - to celebrate the beginning of the Holy Eucharist and the priesthood.