Maundy Thursday 11pm

Thursday
11pm  

In the depths

Now the men who were holding Jesus began to mock him and beat him; they also blindfolded him and kept asking him, ‘Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?’ They kept heaping many other insults on him. (Luke 22: 63-65)

Pilgrims are taken through the church of St. Peter in Gallicantu and down a series of steps deep below the level of the church and the former dwelling.  They go to see a dungeon. Basically it is a hole dug out beneath the foundations of the house.  There was one way in, through an opening in the top, and the prisoner would have been let down on ropes under his arms and left there in the dark. Another entrance has been cut for pilgrims and we enter this terrifying space.  The lights are turned out and we stand in silence.  This is probably where Jesus was on that night, having been beaten and abused by his captors – like so many prisoners.  Was he terrified? He must have been.  He had been praying that the cup be taken from him just a couple of hours ago and now he is here.