Great and Holy Thursday
April 17, 2014
Matthew 26:26-29
- Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it
broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is my
body." And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to
them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the new
covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I
tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day
when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom." (RSV)
The Hour Has Come - At every celebration of the
Eucharist we participate in the events of Holy Thursday – the Mystical
Supper and all that followed: the agony in the Garden at Gethsemane, the betrayal by Judas, the arrest, Jesus before Caiaphas, and Peter’s denial. Jesus does not flee from what is to come and what must come. "Now
is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this
hour'? But for this purpose I have come to this hour” (John 12:27).
The agony in the Garden anticipates the agony on the Cross by which the
world is saved. Whenever and wherever the Mystery of the Eucharist is
celebrated we are present with Christ at that place and at that time.
Today we also continue the readings from Exodus (the Passion, Death and
Resurrection of our Lord prefigured in the journey of the Israelites
from slavery in Egypt into the Promised Land) and Job (his tenacious
faith in God).Scripture
- Matins - Luke 22:1-39
- Hours - Jeremiah 11:18-12:5,9-11,14-15
- Vespers and Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great - Exodus 19:10-19, Job 38:1-21; 42:1-5; Isaiah 50:4-11, Matthew 26:2-20, John 13:3-17, Matthew 26:21-39, Luke 22:43-45; Matthew 26:40-27:1 (Composite)
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