A Perpetual Institution: Reflections on the Readings for Holy Thursday The Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper

Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14
Psalm 116
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
John 13:1-15

Most people associate Holy Thursday with Jesus washing the feet of the Apostles and for the institution of the Holy Eucharist. But there is also a deeper meaning to this event, as it also pertains to the Apostles being ordained as priests.

We begin with a description of the Passover from the book of Exodus. Moses (credited with authorship of Exodus) describes the instructions he received from God as to how the Passover was to be celebrated. It is a prefigurement (a typology, if you will) of the Last Supper and Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins. In particular it notes the important features of the sacrificial lamb (without blemish), the necessity to eat the flesh of the sacrificed lamb, the salvation aspect of the lamb’s blood applied to the doorposts, and the perpetual nature of this institutional meal.

This connects with other prefigurement of Jesus such as the lamb the Lord will provide (Abraham and Isaac, Genesis 22) and the necessity to celebrate in perpetuity (eternal covenant, 1 Cor. 11:25), “a memorial feast.”

The response for the psalm is taken from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians and can be seen as a connection with the cup of salvation from the Last Supper to the faith in the Lord. It talks about offering to God a “sacrifice of thanksgiving.” The word Eucharist means thanksgiving, another clear connection of Jesus’ own sacrifice to the Father on our behalf.

The selection from the first letter to the Corinthians is St. Paul’s retelling of the institution of the Eucharist (Body and Blood of Our Lord) which he, like Moses, received directly from the Lord. It is also important to go beyond the selection read at Mass to get the full impact of Paul’s teaching about the importance of worthiness in receiving the Eucharist: “Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord.” (1 Cor. 11:27-32) Read the whole section.

The gospel reading is the beginning of the Last Supper narrative by St. John. St. John does not delve into the institution of the Eucharist. By the time he wrote his gospel it was well established, and he probably thought it did not need further embellishment. However, he did go into the washing of the feet of the Apostles, noting it was a model for them to follow. Coupled with the command cited by St. Paul, “do this ... in remembrance of Me,” it comprises the ordaining of the Apostles as priests to continue this sacrifice in perpetuity. Ritual washing was part of the ordainment of priests in the Old Testament (see Exodus 30:19-21).

Jesus also reminds them of the need to be a servant to others, “so that as I have done for you, you should also do.” Washing the feet of others is a sign of respect and humility. When Abraham was visited by the Lord on the way to Sodom, he immediately ordered that water be brought to wash their feet. “Sir, if it please you, do not go on past your servant. Let some water be brought, that you may bathe your feet, and then rest under the tree.” (Genesis 18:3-4)

Another part of the Lord’s commissioning of the Apostles is found a little later in this chapter, “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.” (John 13:20, emphasis added)

John also gives an inkling into the forthcoming betrayal of Jesus although at this time he does not mention Judas by name.

The memorial of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday is an important celebration in preparation for Easter. Most, if not all, parishes will conduct the celebration, including the washing of twelve parishioners’ feet. Likewise, the pope does the same, emphasizing its importance of this tradition on the road to salvation.