Mark 14:12-25
12On 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?” 13So 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, 14and 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?’ 15He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.” 16So the disciples set out and went to the city, and found everything as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal.
17When it was evening, he came with the twelve. 18And 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.” 19They began to be distressed and to say to him one after another, “Surely, not I?” 20He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the bowl with me. 21For 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.”
22While 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.” 23Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it. 24He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. 25Truly 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.”
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I always look forward to Maundy Thursday each Lent, not because it’ near the end of the 40 days rather because of the meaning of the events. The stories told in these verses are all very familiar and are written about in each of the gospels. It is also referenced in many familiar paintings and hymns and acknowledged each week when we and others around the world share the Sacrament of Holy Communion. Jesus taught several lessons that evening in the Upper Room during Passover and the one I will focus on is Holy Communion.
Over the past couple of years, I’ve had the honor of assisting with Holy Communion. I look forward to those Sunday’s as they have become a time of contemplative personal worship experience in the preparation, service and clean up. Sure, there is the worry about filling the cups just right, getting the naan ready and making sure there is enough. But I am filled with so much more during the time I spend in the sacristy. It takes me right back to that evening meal and wonder what I would have thought hearing Jesus say “Take; this is my body” followed by “This is the blood of the covenant”. The presence of the Holy Spirit is nourishing and a reminder of God’s presence.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for the Sacrament of Holy Communion that we may be nourished to continue to do your will. Amen
—Mary Kautto