A Holy Thursday Meditation

These stanzas from a hymn of the Greek liturgy are a wonderful source for meditation on today’s liturgy:

On this day, Judas leaves his Master,

   and takes the devil for his guide. 

The love of money blinds him. 

He fell from the light, he became darkened: 

   for how could he be said to see,

who sold the Light for thirty pieces of silver? 

But to us he that suffered for the world has risen:

   let us thus cry out unto him: 

Glory be to thee, who didst endure they Passion,

   and had compassion on mankind.

What was it, O Judas!

   that led thee to betray Jesus?

Had he cut thee off from the number of the apostles?

Had he deprived thee of the gift of healing the sick?

When he supped with his apostles

   did he drive thee from table?

When he washed their feet,

   did he pass they by?

And yet thou was unmindful of these great favors!

They ungrateful plot has branded thee with infamy:

   but his incomparable patience and great mercy

   are everywhere praised.

Say, O ye unjust ones!

   what is it ye have heard from our Savior?

Did he not expound unto you the Law and the Prophets?

Why therefore, have you plotted

   how to deliver up to Pilate the Word that is from God,

   and that came to redeem our souls?

They that had enjoyed thy unceasing gifts cried out:

‘Let him be crucified!’

These murderers of such as were innocent,

   sought thee, that they might treat thee,

   their benefactor, as an evil-doer.

But thou, O Christ!

   didst bear their wickedness with silence;

   for thou, being the lover of mankind,

   didst desire to suffer for and save us.

We are prevented from speaking by the multitude of our sins:

   do thou, O Virgin Mother of God!

   pray for us to him that was born of thee,

   for the Mother’s prayer avails much with the mercy of the Lord,

Despise not, O most pure Virgin!

   the prayers of sinners,

   for he that refused not even to suffer for us,

   is merciful, and is able to save us.

from The Liturgical Year,
Passiontide and Holy Week

by Abbot Guéranger OSB

(Translated from the French

by Dom Laurence Shepherd OSB,

The Newman Press,

Westminster, MD, 1949