Today, April 5, 2012, is Holy Thursday or Maudy Thursday. It starts the Sacred Triduum which includes Good Friday, Holy Saturday and on to Easter. It commemorates the institution of the Eucharist and the priesthood at the Last Supper. We remember, too, Jesus' example of greatest humility at His washing of the feet of the apostles.
Gigantic strides in cyber technology have been achieved in this era such that the world has grown smaller, so to speak. Something happening at one end of the planet can now be simultaneously seen at the opposite hemisphere. So it was that I witnessed the solemn celebration of the Liturgy of the Lord's Supper at the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome late this afternoon. Pope Benedict XVI officiated at the Mass.
The Basilica of St. John Lateran is the Cathedral of Rome and is therefore the seat of the Bishop of Rome who is the Pope. It was built in the year 324, recognized as the Mother of the Catholic Church of the world and ranks the oldest and first among the major basilicas in Rome. The beautiful "baldochino" (wood-carved canopy) of the main altar has an enclosed section on top which has the relics of St. Peter and St. Paul.
As the Pope was washing the feet of the twelve men representing the apostles, my memory reverted to my visits to the Upper Room on Mount Zion in Israel. It is recorded that during the different times of the siege of Jerusalem through the centuries, the Upper Room or Cenacle as it is also known, has been left unharmed.
To go to the Upper Room, visitors have to pass through the Tomb of David. a place sacred to the Jews. At the entrance, a thin cap similar to those worn by Jewish men is given in exchange for a dollar. I thought it to be a scam of some sort but, of course, took it in stride. Some questions disturbed me as I passed by the long box (coffin, maybe) covered with colorful silk cloth and ornaments on top. Is this really the tomb of David, one of the revered kings of Israel? How come people are allowed to pass by his bier right inside the so-called tomb? Isn't the constant traffic of humanity a sign of disrespect? With a shrug of my shoulders, I climbed the stairs leading to the second floor - The Upper Room.
The room is spacious with three free-standing columns in the center. I tried to encircle one with my arms but was a lot wider for my grasp. The vaulted ceilings so characteristic of centuried churches automatically attracts any visitor's attention. On one wall is a niche which served as altar during the time the room was used as a mosque. Almost in line with the staircase on the other end of the room is a door which at the time of my visit was wide open showing a street. Then I recalled that during Pentecost when the Holy Spirit blessed the apostles with tongues of fire upon their heads, they were able to speak the different languages of the people in town. Also, I remembered the Bible account of Peter going out in the street right after receiving the Holy Spirit and proclaiming to the peope that Jesus is their Messiah. That day, 3,000 pagans were converted to the Christian faith.
The Upper Room has been the setting for some important events in the life of Jesus and the history of the Church. First and foremost is the celebration of the Last Supper which initiated the institution of the Holy Eucharist and the priesthood or Holy Orders. It was the meeting place of the apostles with the Virgin Mary after the death of Jesus. In fact, the discussion about the person to replace Judas was held there which led to the choice of Mathias. Pentecost, the epoch-making coming of the Holy Spirit happened in the Upper Room. After His Resurrection, Jesus appeared to the apostles in the room two times. Firstly,when He proved to them His triumph over death and the real body He bore and secondly, when He called Thomas to touch His hands and side to cast the apostle's doubts away. We remember the words that Thomas proclaimed,
"My Lord and my God!"
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