Maundy Thursday: 2024 Year ABC

John 13:1-15. Jesus answered him, "Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me."

On Maundy Thursday, Christ instituted the priesthood of the New Covenant, the Covenant wrought in His Own Precious Blood. The first question we might ask is: what is a covenant? A covenant is a binding contract between two parties, ratified by swearing an oath. The Old Testament (old covenant) was a foreshadowing of the New, a foundation for what was to come.

The Old Covenant was established between God and the people of Israel after God freed them from slavery in Egypt. Moses, who led the people out, served as the mediator of this contract, which was made at Mount Sinai:

They offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as fellowship offerings to the Lord. Moses took half of the blood and put it in bowls, and the other half he splashed against the altar. Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, “We will do everything the Lord has said; we will obey.”

Then Moses took the blood from the basins and splattered it over the people, declaring, “Look, this blood confirms the covenant the Lord has made with you in giving you these instructions.” (Exodus 24:8)

God installed Moses' brother Aaron and Aaron's sons as priests, who were to offer animal sacrifices to intercede for the people. Now in the New Testament, the New Covenant.

He took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, [...]. And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.”

A New Covenant; New Sacrifice; a New Priesthood. A New Covenant wrought in the Blood of Christ; a New Sacrifice, Christ who is offered to the Father as a victim for our sins; a New Priesthood to offer His Sacrifice to God and His people, “do this in memory of Me.”, offering not animal sacrifice but Christ’s Own Body and Blood, to God for us. THe New Priesthood of the New Covenant receives a new commandment to love as He has Loved. “Love one another as I have loved you”, To be Christlike in their lives as they should be Christlike in their sacrifice, loving as Christ loved, offering as Christ has offered.

Let us take a quick look at parts of the ordination of a Bishop and priest.

Ordination of a Bishop: Our Lord Jesus Christ, who was sent by the Father to redeem the human race, sent in turn twelve apostles into the world. These men were filled with the power of the Holy Spirit so that they might preach the word of God and gather every race and people into a single flock to be guided and governed in the way of holiness. But their role was to continue to the end of time. So the apostles selected helpers for themselves and passed on to them the gift of the Holy Spirit they had received from Christ, by an imposition of hands which confers the sacrament of Orders in its fullness. In that way, by a succession of bishops unbroken from one generation to the next, the powers conferred in the beginning were handed down and the work of the Savior lives and grows in our own time.

In summary: As the Father sent Christ, Christ sent His Apostles, and as the apostles are sent so the apostles send their successors, giving what they themselves have received.

Respect him as a minister of Christ and a steward entrusted with the mysteries of God. He has been assigned to bear witness to the truth of the Gospel, as well as to minister the Spirit and God's power to make men just. Remember the words of Christ which he addressed to the apostles: "Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me, and those who reject me reject the one who sent me."

May he [the bishop] feed your holy flock and exercise the high priesthood without blame, ministering to you day and night to reconcile us with you and to offer the gifts of your Church. By the Spirit of this priesthood may he have the power to forgive sins, as you commanded. May he assign the duties of the flock according to your will and loose every bond by the power you gave the apostles.

Ordination of Priests: As he [Christ] was sent by the Father, he sent the Apostles into the world so that through them and their successors, the bishops, he might continue forever his work as Teacher, Priest and Pastor. The priests are co-workers of the college of bishops since they are joined to bishops in the priestly office and are called to serve the people of God.[...] By consecration they will be made true priests of the New Testament who will preach the gospel, sustain the people of God, and celebrate sacred rites, especially the Lord's sacrifice.