Great and Holy Thursday Holy Week Fast
Thursday, April 28, 2005
6th Hour: Isaiah 50:4-11 Epistle: 1 Corinthians 11:23-32
St. Matthew 26:21-39; St. Luke 22:43-45; St. Matthew 26:40-27:2, especially vss. 26-29: (What follows are
excerpts from Homily 82 of St. John Chrysostom, from his "Homilies on St. Matthew's Gospel," Nicene & Post Nicene
Fathers, First Series, Volume 10, pp. 491-493.)
"And as they were eating, He took bread, and brake it." Why can it have been that He ordained this Sacrament then, at
the time of the Passover? That thou mightest learn from everything, both that He is the lawgiver of the Old Testament, and
that the things therein are foreshadowed because of these things. Therefore, I say, where the type is, there He puts the truth.
But the evening is a sure sign of the fullness of times, and that the things were now come to the very end. And He gives
thanks, to teach us how we ought to celebrate this Sacrament, and to show that not unwillingly doth He come to the
Passion, and to teach us whatever we may suffer to bear it thankfully, thence also suggesting good hopes. For if the type
was a deliverance from such bondage, how much more will the truth set free the world, and will He be delivered up for the
benefit of our race....And thus the very chief of the feasts He brings to an end, removing them to another most awful
table....
"Take, eat, This is my Body, Which is broken for many." ....He speaks of the cause of His Passion, namely, the taking away
of sins....And like as the Old Testament had sheep and bullocks, so this has the Lord's blood. Hence also He shows that He
is soon to die, wherefore also He made mention of a Testament, and He reminds them also of the former Testament, for that
also was dedicated with blood. And again He tells the cause of His death,
"Which is shed for many for the remission of sins:" and He saith, "Do this in remembrance of Me." Seest thou how He
removes and draws them off from Jewish customs....But this He said, indicating thereby, that His passion and His cross are
a mystery, by this too again comforting His disciples. And like as Moses saith, "This shall be to you for an everlasting
memorial" (Ex 12:14), so He too, "in remembrance of Me," until I come. Therefore also He saith, "With desire I have
desired to eat this Passover" (Lk. 22:15), that is to deliver you this new rite, and to give a Passover, by which I Am to
make you spiritual.
And He Himself drank of it. For lest on hearing this, they should say, What then? do we drink blood, and eat flesh? and
then be perplexed (for when He began to discourse concerning these things, even at the very saying many were offended -
Jn. 6:60,61,66), therefore lest they should be troubled then likewise, He first did this Himself, leading them to the calm
participation of the mysteries....For on this account He said, "Do this," that He might withdraw them from the other. For if
this worketh remission of sins, as it surely doth work it, the other is now superfluous....
....Then, when He had delivered it, He saith "I will not drink of the fruit of this wine [sic], until that day when I drink it
new with you in my Father's Kingdom." For because He had discoursed with them concerning Passion and Cross, He
again introduces what He has to say of His Resurrection, having made mention of a Kingdom before them, and so calling
His own Resurrection. And wherefore did He drink after He was risen again? Lest the grosser sort might suppose the
Resurrection was an appearance. For the common sort made this an infallible test of His having risen again. Wherefore
also the Apostles...say, "We who did eat and drink with Him" (Acts 10:41)....It was not for want that He ate...but for the
full assurance of His Resurrection.
Receive me today, O Son of God, as a partaker of Thy sacramental Supper; for I shall not divulge Thy mystery to Thine
enemies, nor give Thee a kiss like Judas.