Every day he was teaching in the temple, and at night he would go out and spend the night on the Mount of Olives, as it was called. And all the people would get up early in the morning to listen to him in the temple. Now the festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was near. The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to put Jesus to death, for they were afraid of the people. Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve; he went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers of the temple police about how he might betray him to them. They were greatly pleased and agreed to give him money. So he consented and began to look for an opportunity to betray him to them when no crowd was present. Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, ‘Go and prepare the Passover meal for us that we may eat it.’ They asked him, ‘Where do you want us to make preparations for it?’ ‘Listen,’ he said to them, ‘when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him into the house he enters and say to the owner of the house, “The teacher asks you, ‘Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ ” He will show you a large room upstairs, already furnished. Make preparations for us there.’ So they went and found everything as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal. Luke 21:37-22:13
Religious traditions always seem to involve food, and the preparation for it is often complicated and almost ritualistic. Traditional food preparation has been, most often, done by the women, and there is usually one matriarch in charge. They order their life in order to make sure everything is ready and seek out the best ingredients and take pride in making the best food. So, we find the world a little bit on its head when Jesus sends his disciples to make preparations. I think, they followed his instructions but quickly sought out a matriarch who they could trust. I'm sure there was debate as they followed Jesus' instructions, as to why this place, and why weren't they going to one of their homes. Someone probably felt snubbed. And looking back from the foot of the cross, they may have wondered why they bothered. And yet, we find the love of God, breaking through, through grief and pain, in an occupied and hostile land. God's love, in these war torn, anxious times, is breaking through right now. Pray that we might see and understand.
Wondrous Creator, you prepare a way for us
even when we are caught in the dark of worry
when the world seems to dim and we're lost
you are breaking through with more love and life.
We are often getting our nose out of joint
our plans haven't gone our way and we're angry
we think you have abandoned us and we cry
yet you are always working in our worst storms.
Help us, Lord, to trust your direction and hope
so that we might take one step at a time towards you
so that the world might see love breaking in
and that we might prepare the hearts for new life. Amen.
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