On a Thursday, the day of the Passover, Jesus sent His Apostles, John and Peter to arrange a room for them to share for the Passover dinner. In the course of that meal, Jesus changed the apostles’ lives forever as they witnessed the first Mass ever celebrated on this earth. How amazing to ponder the fact that God sent down His Son to present the human race with this Gift. The priesthood was also instituted at that same meal. Jesus let it be known that Peter would have a very special role with the apostles and Jesus presented them with the command to love one another.
The beauty of that Last Supper soon changed to pain for the innocent Jesus who willingly came to earth to die for our sins. Jesus went with his apostles to the Mount of Olives to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane. Not being totally aware of where the evening was going, the apostles fell asleep instead of praying with Christ.
Then events seemed to speed up as Judas showed up leading the people who had paid him to show them who this man, Jesus was. The silver paid him might even have been about his person as Judas leaned in towards Jesus and gave him a fraternal kiss, the sign setting Jesus apart as the one the people sought. Peter took the side of resistence and started off by slashing off the ear of the high priest’s servant. Jesus held Peter back from further demonstrations of violence, healed the servant’s ear and was taken away to stand before the high priests, Annas and Caiaphas. As we all know, the passage of events culminated in the Crucifixion of Jesus on the cross the next day.
Holy Thursday each year commemorates and reflects on Jesus’ last celebration of Passover on earth and the beginning of the new Church. Mass on this day usually begins in the evening. At the end of the Mass, a procession removes the Blessed Sacrament to a special altar for the night while the main altar is stripped of all the cloths, candles, and decorations. The usual hymn while this is being done is:
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh were you there when they crucified my Lord?
(Ohh, sometimes it causes me to tremble)
Tremble
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
1. Were you there when they nailed Him to the cross?
Were you there when they nailed Him to the cross?
(Ohh, sometimes it causes me to tremble)
Tremble
Were you there when they nailed Him to the cross?
Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?
Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?
(Ohh, sometimes it causes me to tremble)
Tremble
Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?
Well, were you there when the stone was rolled away?Were you there when the stone was rolled away?
(Ohh, sometimes it causes me to tremble)
Tremble
Were you there when the stone was rolled away?
No music accompanies the hymn making the soft voices of the choir seem more solemn. The church goes quiet and there is Adoration during the night, keeping watch.