Great Thursday
Luke 22:1-39; Exodus 19:10-19; Job 38:1-23; 42:1-5; Isaiah 50:4-11; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32; Matthew 26:2-20; John 13:3-17; Matthew 26:21-39; Luke 22:43-45; Matthew 26:40-27:2
Great Week. Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat. The Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great is celebrated in the late afternoon today.
Read Matthew 26:2-20; John 13:3-17; Matthew 26:21-39; Luke 22:43-45; Matthew 26:40-27:2
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
Today being Great and Holy Thursday, we not only commemorate the mystery of the institution of the Eucharist, but also the events that preceded the Mystical Supper. The betrayal of our Lord is manifested in one of the twelve Apostles—these were one of the leaders and close companions of the Lord. They were not only privileged to walk with the Lord for three years, witness his miracles, hear his powerful teaching, but were also privileged to participate in the mission of the Gospel through the grace and power that Jesus shared with them. The apostles by the power of Christ working through them also proclaimed the Gospel, they healed, they expelled demons and raised the dead. One of these, Judas Iscariot, ‘Satan entered’ (Luke 22:3) and led him to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver.
The evil one did not force himself on Judas without his consent. Why did the evil one choose Judas and not the others? Judas made room for the evil one in his heart and the others did not. The tragic downfall of Judas is not that he was not physically present with the Lord for three years, but that his heart and mind were not present with the Lord. He lacked faith and a desire to grow in virtue, but Judas gave his heart to vice and the things of this world. This is what gave the evil one access to the heart of Judas and led to his downfall.
In the Gospels Jesus tries on many occasions to call Judas back with his words: speaking about the difficulty of what he will suffer, even saying that it is better for his betrayer not to even be born. At the Mystical Supper giving the bread to Judas after he was asked who would betray him: “It is the one I give this piece of bread to after I have put it in the dish.” (John 13:26). Judas had ample opportunity to turn back, but the tragedy is that he didn’t do so before nor did he repent after. Judas stands as a stark reminder that privilege of religious position, whether that be clergy or a baptised Christian, is worthless if it is not accompanied with effort to grow in faith and virtue. May we please the Lord Jesus, who gives us so generously his Body and Blood, with our desire and efforts.