DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS
St. Matthew 26:2-27:2
(4/24) From
the Gospel, Liturgy of St. Basil, Thursday of Great & Holy Week
St.
Matthew 26:21-39; St. Luke 22:43-45; St. Matthew 26:40-27:2, especially vss.
26-29: (This meditation is 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.