Preparing the Feast

On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, his 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

Every family and community has certain meals that are a big deal, and these meals are different depending on their culture, their faith and their location. Many of us have experienced holiday feasts that have gone sideways, arguments have broken out and feelings have been hurt. The more important the feast, the more anxiety is in evidence. Jesus' disciples were fretting over the arrangements for their Passover, yet all was prepared for them. Noone names the throngs of women and other helpers that made it happen. We do know that this feast is followed by great drama and great pain. And before the worst of the drama happened, we were all invited, throughout the ages, to be at table with Jesus and be numbered among his people.

Gracious Creator, you set us in family

surround us with extended communities

teach us by the loving examples given

and make us your people here on earth.

We often quarrel with the ones we love

we fail to see the blessings around us

we gripe and complain with every breath

yet you still chose to die for us all.

Help us to see you love poured out

may we love others in our gratitude

for you have made us yours despite our ways

amd promise to feed us all from your table. Amen.