April 6, 2023
Good morning,
Thursday of Holy Week
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” Mark 14:22-25
These words of Jesus are said every day by some priest, pastor, minister, Pope, and others all over the world. Even though most Christians participate in the ritual supper, we all do not agree on the meaning of the words. In the World Council of Churches, they ( we ) cannot come to a consensus that would satisfy all of our wants and needs. We agree that there was supper. Jesus was there. The disciples were there, including Judas Iscariot. The supper was tension-filled. Just before Jesus entered Jerusalem, James and John’s mother asked Jesus if her sons could have a better seat in heaven. And after the meal ( Luke 22 ), the disciples have a discussion about who is the ‘ greatest ‘ among them. So, we can imagine that all was not perfect as they got up from the meal to leave. Judas left early to talk to some people about getting Jesus arrested. There was Peter, and Thomas and the Zealot named Simon. I believe they all had strong personalities with ideas about what it meant to follow this rabbi from Nazareth who was born in Bethlehem. And only a few understood that Jesus was to die in a few hours.
So, we come to the supper to be healed. We come to remember the sacrifice of love of Jesus. We come for reconciliation from past hurts. We come for community. Why will you be coming to participate in an ancient ritual ? Will you come to the front of the church with new reasons for taking the bread… and the cup ? Tomorrow, I will offer the bread of life, and the Elders will offer the cup of salvation. Everyone is invited to the table to find God, in a new way or an old way. God is giving you an invitation to a new life in the life everlasting .
Prayer
O God,
We will come,
with bowed heads,
open hands,
loving hearts,
and,
suffering souls,
to your full table of bread and wine. AMEN
Fred
Birds perch on branches
joining the peaceful chorus
of Courage’s song
Monika Pieper Landoni 2023
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