Saturday, March 22, 2008

*
HOLY THURSDAY:
SEVEN INGREDIENTS



1) People,
2) Place,
3) Bread,
4) Wine,
5) Water,
6) Table,
7) Words.

1) People:
people wanting to be with Jesus,
people wanting to follow Jesus,
people hesitating to have their feet washed,
people not sure what is really going on,
people who will remember.

2) Place:
the upper room,
the place of the Last Supper,
the place of coming of the Holy Spirit,
the place where the disciples hid out of fear,
the place where the disciples heard, “Peace” from the Risen Lord,
the womb, the birth place of the church.

3) Bread:
bread broken,
bread shared,
bread held,
bread that hears the words: “This is my body which is being broken for you”,
bread eaten out of hunger for the Lord,
bread always asked for -- “Give us this day our daily bread.”

4) Wine:
wine made from grapes picked from a living vine,
wine made from crushed grapes,
wine the color of blood,
wine in the chalice that Jesus said “Yes” to,
wine gladdening the hearts of all who thirst for it,
wine becoming the blood being poured out in a New Covenant of love and service.

5) Water:
water used by Jesus to wash his disciples feet,
water reminding us of all the people on the planet who serve others, parents, nurses, farmers, dentists, mechanics, cooks, waiters, waitresses, truck drivers, nursing home workers, business people, hopefully, everyone,
water reminding us of the sacredness and beauty of all the water on our planet covering most of our earth,
water answering our prayers, “Give us this day our daily shower”; “Give us this day our daily glasses of cold water”; “Give us this day our water for our many hand washings”,
water, like the water that would flow from Jesus’ side on the cross.

6) Table:
a table of food, a meal, bringing people together in love and communion,
a table, reminding us of all that goes into our everyday meals, sacrifice, work, planning, shopping, lining up, preparing, cooking, serving, doing dishes and silverware, saran wrapping and plastic containing leftovers, etc.
a table reminding us of Jesus willingness and joy to sit down at our tables,
a table, a place for each one in the family to answer, “How was your day?”,
a table, an altar that brings us together with Jesus in a real presence at each Eucharist,
a table reminding us of the importance of gathering as a family around table for everyday meals, everyday Eucharist’s as well as special celebrations and thanksgiving dinners and Eucharist’s,
a table reminding us of the need to gather at table for meals, for meetings, for mapping out how we can live the New Testament.

7) Words:
Last Supper words, teachings,
Last Supper words, prayers, promises, a new commandment,
Last Supper words of Thanksgiving, Unity, Mystery,
Last Supper words that will be remembered,
Last Supper words, “Gather” and “Do this in memory of me.”

* I received
the picture
on the top
of this meditation
on an Easter Card -
but there was no mention
of who the artist is. Sorry.

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