The true Meaning of Maundy Thursday

Everyone a minister of Christ

 

Holy Thursday is a day comprising two important liturgical celebrations: the Chrism Mass in the morning and the Eucharist commemorating Jesus Last Supper in the evening. In both of these the focus is on the theme of ministry, meaning service which pertains as a responsibility entrusted by Jesus Christ to everyone, without exception, to show his tender caring love “without end”. Hence, this day is called “Maundy Thursday,” which is derived from the Latin word “mandatum” referring to the “new command” lived out, that is, exemplified by Jesus himself: “love one another as I have loved you” (cf. Jn 13:34). Only by endeavouring to keep this command, we will be recognized as his true disciples (cf. Jn 13:35).

 During the morning celebration following the ancient tradition of the Church, three sacramental oils are consecrated in the Cathedral by the bishop: the oil of catechumens, that of the infirm and that of Chrism. It is from the latter that this is called “Chrism Mass.”

 The sacred oil of Chrism, a mixture of olive oil and sweet scented aromatic resin or balsam, is used in the rites of baptism, confirmation, ordination of priests and bishops. The significance of this anointing refers us to Christ Jesus, whose name ‘Christ’ means the “Anointed One” par excellence in his divinely appointed threefold role as being Prophet, Priest and King. Because we are called and consecrated to participate, as members of his Body, the Church, in his reality as children of God, all of us have the name ‘Christians’. St Paul expressed the implications of witnessing to his reality in us as spreading the fragrant “aroma of Christ” to all people (cf. 2 Cor 2:14ff.).

 It is not only bishops and priests who have the responsibility to proclaim the Gospel, but also every Christian, who must show before the world the Gospel, meaning “the good news” of Christ alive in us. We must express Christ’s truth and beauty of his healing reconciliation and joy-giving attractiveness. To quote again St Paul regarding being Christ’s witnesses: “You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on your hearts, to be read by all people… you show that you are a letter… written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on the tablets of human hearts” (2 Cor 3:3).

This must be the effective change that is brought about by our baptismal anointing and particularly by Confirmation. Through this sacrament all of us, albeit “vessels of clay,” become strengthened in the very concrete details of our lives not to lose heart to be ministers of the transcendent and transforming power of God’s mercy (cf. 2 Cor 4:1ff.). In virtue of this strengthening by the Holy Spirit all Christians have the privileged task of being faithful and reliable, as the Apostle Paul says, “servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries” (1 Cor 4:1f.). While this latter phrase certainly applies in a special way to priestly ordination, nevertheless, it also concerns, as the Second Vatican Council taught, all the lay faithfuls’ participation in the universal priesthood of Christ.

Carrying out Jesus' command of love 

Maundy Thursday comes into its own at the celebration of the Eucharist in commemoration of the Lord’s Supper. The Gospel of the Mass from St John’s account describes Jesus’ act of washing the disciples’ feet on the occasion of his parting meal with his disciples (cf. Jn 13:1-20). It may seem strange, at first sight, that this does not mention anything about Jesus’ instituting the Sacrament of the Gift of himself, as in the other three Gospels. This maybe because John presents in Chapter 6 of this Gospel not only Jesus’ challenging promise to give his flesh and blood in the forms of living Bread from heaven for the life of the world and the New Wine of the kingdom of God (cf. 6.47ff.), the partaking of which ensures abiding in him and being raised up on the last day (cf. 6:53ff.). It maybe also that John considered that this promise and the response required to realize it are a sufficiently extended mystagogical catechesis of the sacramental sacrifice of Christ Jesus. Or then again, the omission of the institution of the Eucharist may have been because this was familiar to the Christian community.

On the other hand, the author of the Fourth Gospel in depicting details of Jesus’ stooping down to perform the humble attitude of a servant would seem to be making the important point regarding the significance of what is entailed in sharing the Eucharistic Banquet. This means that only in following Jesus’ example in becoming servants of others, like him, can we be his true disciples having part in his life (cf. Jn 13:8).

Indeed, this Sacrament expresses the life of faith in his immense Love. Its implications are vast! The notion of ministry, meaning service (diakonia) is the heart of participation in the Eucharist. This ministry or service takes many forms, apart from the taking part in the liturgy, such as through the ministerial priesthood, diaconate, or through being acolytes, readers. Through partaking of the Sacrament of the Lord’s Body and Blood we are all nourished and filled with his spirit of humble and lovingly giving ourselves wholly in service to others. Every kind of work takes on a deeper meaning if undertaken in an unselfish and unstinting love for our neighbour, whom we recognize as members of Christ’s body. In all aspects of our lives of being servants of one another, thus, we give expression to what we celebrate at Mass.

Our entire lives become an existential liturgy of the worship of God and respectful recognition of our brothers’ and sisters’ needs. This service in humble love outflows from and leads back to the liturgy we carry out in the Eucharist. Both the Eucharistic liturgy and the offering of our various deeds in concrete service faithfully carry out in the obedience of faith and love Jesus’ command: “Do this in memory of me... whatever you do to one of these my least brethren you do unto me.”

 Image above:

Painting by the Mannerist artist known as Tintoretto (Jacopo Robusti) 1575-80, now in The National Gallery, London. This theme of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet was a favourite of this artist, who painted six of them, commissioned by churches in Venice.