When Thy glorious disciples were enlightened at the washing of their feet before the supper, then the impious Judas was darkened by the disease of avarice, and to the lawless judges he betrayed Thee, the Righteous Judge. Behold, O lover of money, this man because of avarice hanged himself. Flee from the insatiable desire which dared such things against the Master! O Lord who deals righteously with all, glory to Thee (Troparion of Holy Thursday).

I find that the Troparion of Holy Thursday really resonates with me, and it’s not just because it’s filled with fun words to say (impious, avarice) or that the tune is one of my favorites. It’s contemplating the interaction between the Washing of the feet, the institution of the Holy Supper, and the betrayal of Christ. How all of those events are set on a crash course that meets this fateful day. I read a commentary in the past couple of days (and I’ve forgotten where, so if it was yours, thank you. And, pardon my lack of credit for it) that reminded us that Judas’ fatal sin was not the betrayal (which was of course huge) but his lack of repentance. And, that the harlot’s act was the ultimate in repentance. The Troparion fleshes out that point and reminds us to beware of the love of money.

I was surprised to learn recently that the Holy Unction Service on Holy Wednesday is both not universal in Orthodoxy, and is a recent (in Orthodox time anyway) addition to Holy Week. I am thankful that I do attend a parish where we are able to avail ourselves of this Healing Sacrament. It is entwined with our Lenten obligation to repent. As I mentioned to Belladonna earlier today, I am also thankful for my church’s sacrament of Confession – it’s a very good thing for me to find the common threads of sins, and to repent like the harlot and not avoid it like Judas did.

Continuing the Sacramental aspects of Holy Week, another facet of Holy Thursday is the institution of Communion. While I’ve never attended Holy Thursday’s Liturgy (it’s on my “someday when I’m retired list” as I keep mentioning to people), the Communion bread is baked from the flour from the previous night’s Unction service (I believe). Tonight, as we don’t stay up until Midnight to serve the Holy Friday Matins (thanks Father Deacon Raphael for that information) we will have the 12 Gospel readings. This is one of my favorite services of the year, and as I’ve mentioned before, contains my favorite verse of Holy Week:

Beholding her own lamb led to the slaughter, Mary followed with the other women, in distress and crying out: "Where goest Thou, my child" Why dost Thou run so swift a course? Surely there is not another wedding in Cana to which Thou now dost hasten to change water into wine? Shall I come with Thee, my child, or shall I wait for Thee? Give me a word, O Thou who art the Word. Do not pass me by in silence, O Thou who didst keep me pure, for Thou art my Son and my God

A continued blessed Holy Week to everyone!

(0n a total side note - is anyone else having the problem where entire phrases are getting cut off in their Blog posts, and links go to the wrong place? Why is this doing this? How do I make it stop?)