Holy Week and Pascha 2013: The Very First Communion

Holy Thursday Morning Liturgy

at which we remember the "Mystical (or Last) Supper"

This morning we celebrated a liturgy at which we remembered the very first time that anyone ever had communion. It is called the Mystical (or Last) Supper.

In the Gospel we read that Jesus celebrated the Passover meal with his diciples, just like Jews do today. Except at this Passover meal, something very special happened. While they were eating, Jesus picked up a piece of bread, broke it into pieces, blessed it and then said, "Take, eat; this is my body." Then He gave it to his twleve disciples. And then He picked up a cup, which was full of wine, gave thanks to God, and then He said, "Drink of it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." (Matthew 26:26-27)

Do those words sound familiar? That's right, those are the same words which Fr. Edward (or Fr. Philip) says every Sunday morning, when they are consecrated (making holy) the bread and the wine for communion. Every Sunday we celebrate this same meal which Jesus ate with his diciples, but today is the day on which it actually happened!

Now more things happened today too. Today we also heard in the Gospel that Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. Now why would He do that? He was their teacher, and even more than that--He is God! Why he do something like this for them? Well, the disciples has the same question. (They had alot of questions you know.) Jesus said to them that he did this as an example about how they should treat eachother. If Jesus is willing to do something respectful and kind to them, then they ought to do the same to eachother and to everyone else. Jesus is own example too, so shouldn't be so kinds? After all, He may have not have washed our feet, but He did die for us.

Lastly, we heard in the Gospel today that after supper, Jesus and His disciples went up to the Mount of Olives (a nice green garden area outside the city of Jerusalem) and that while there were there, a group of men sent by the cheif priests came to arrest Jesus. Then they took Him to the High Priests in order to condemn Him. We are going to hear lots more about this story tonight, so we will save it for later.

Liturgy with Bishop John!

We had a special visitor today at liturgy! Bishop John came to celebrate this wonderful feast with us.

Epistle: 1 Corinthians 11:23-32

Gospel: Matt. 26:2-20; John 13:3-17; Matt. 26:21-39; Luke 22:43-45; Matt. 26:40-27:2

(Well, there's alot of story to be told)

So many clergy, all celebrating with us!

Today Fr. Edward, or this case Bishop John, consecrated all the extra, or reserve, communion that we use for the whole year. Fr. Edward using this communion to take to people who are sick at home or in the hospital.