THE LAST SUPPER*

INTRODUCTION

The title of this homiletic reflection is, “The Last Supper!”

As humans we know the meaning of supper – the importance of eating together.

The family that eats together stays together – is in communion with each other.

As Christians we know the meaning of the Mass – the importance of sharing words together – eating – breaking bread – sharing the cup – and praying together.

The family that worships and prays and talks and listens to and with each other stays together – stays in communion with each other.

With our Judeo-Christian background, we know the meaning of Holy Thursday – the day of the Last Supper – the day of the Passover Meal. We know the meaning of Covenant.

Today – Holy Thursday – is the day of the Passover – the sacred meal – the Last Supper of Jesus – when he gave himself body and blood in a New Covenant with us.

THE GOSPELS

Compared to John, Mathew, Mark and Luke are rather brief in their presentation of the story of the Last Supper – the Last Passover Meal of Jesus with his disciples. They give the key ingredients of the Last Supper: bread, wine, “This is my body…. This is my blood…”, covenant and giving, as well as the predictions of betrayal and denial…. “Surely not I Lord, surely not I Lord?”

John - chapters 13-17 - presents what the others pass over: the foot washing, the new commandment to love one another as Jesus loves us, the sayings, “I am the way the truth and the life”, the metaphor and poetry of the true vine and a woman about to give birth has great pain – but all that pain and sorrow goes away when everyone experiences a new birth. John gives us Jesus’ long farewell address – contrasting fear with trust, service of others with self serving, leaving and coming back again, joy and sorrow, being an orphan, feeling alone, and the Presence of the Father, Our Father, in our lives as well as the promise of the Spirit in our lives, in our story.

The Jewish Scriptures, Jewish tradition, as well as the gospels tell us it’s the Passover Night – when families gathered together and the question was asked, “Why is this night different from all other nights?” And the answer was always the same: “This is the night our ancestors passed over from slavery to freedom, from Egypt towards the Promised Land. This is the night the Lambs were slain – their blood sprinkled on the entrance to the Israelite homes and Death passed over that house. This is the night of the unleavened bread – the rushed bread – because time was of the essence. This was the night of the various cups of wine – red wine that looked like red blood – like the red blood sprinkled on our doorposts to save us from Death.

Holy Thursday is the day we celebrate the Eucharist – the Christian Passover Meal. Why is this night different from all other nights? Because on this night Jesus gave us the Eucharist – the Passover Meal for Christians that brings together our people – and we listen to our scriptures. We share our bread and our wine, the Body and Blood of Jesus – and we ask that Jesus blood be smeared on the doors of our being.

Tonight Catholics all over the world will gather together to celebrate the Mass, the Passover Meal, the Last Supper.

CONCLUSION

Our reading from Hebrews 2: 9-10 is from a deep Christian text from around 67 A.D. It’s title “Hebrews” is from the 2nd Century – and it implies that the Christian Community it was written to and for – knew its Hebrew roots – knew the Hebrew stories, temple, covenant, worship. Christ replaces the old priesthood. It presents how early Christians saw Jesus as the High Priest who brings us Redemption – and that’s what we celebrate this week, Holy Week, these three days, the Triduum of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter – this day, Holy Thursday.




* A 2001 Painting on top by Simon Dewey, a British artist, who lives in Alberta, Canada. Check out the painting in living color by typing in his name and the painting, "Last Supper" on Google.

This was a reflection for our Morning Prayer - Holy Thursday - April 9, 2009.