This Is My Body

On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, Jesus’s disciples said to him, “Where do you want us to go and make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?” So he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him, and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks, Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.” So the disciples set out and went to the city, and found everything as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal.
When it was evening, he came with the twelve. And when they had taken their places and were eating, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.” They began to be distressed and to say to him one after another, “Surely, not I?” He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the bowl with me. For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.”
While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it. He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly I tell you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Mark 14:12-26

Both simple and beyond understanding, the last supper drama always makes me sit up and take notice again. I love celebrating the Eucharist in churches, and I miss participating as a congregant at times. My job is to remember and bring us to that place of God's love for us, so tangible given to us who are so broken. I have to concentrate on the words and the gestures, yet those who receive can just be drawn in again, as if for the first time.

Jesus and his disciples are observant Jews and the Savior of the world goes to the cross as one. He made sure they honor God in their traditions, and showed them how their lives would change after that night. They couldn't possibly understand what was in store for them, as we cannot. Yet we have these lasting moments, this holy drama, to remind us of God's loving presence in and with us as we face the worst challenges ahead.

Today, I ask God to help me face the day with joy in my heart. Despite the mountains and challenges ahead, may we hold to the gifts of Christ we have been given, taking in the Body and Blood so we can go out again, singing a hymn.