READING HEBREWS 2:9b-11
We see Jesus crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, that through
God's gracious will he might taste death for the sake of all men. Indeed, it was
fitting that when bringing many sons to glory God, for whom and through whom
all things exist, should make their leader in the work of salvation perfect through
suffering.
REFLECTION
The word from this short reading from Hebrews that hit me
was the word, “Taste.”
Taste ---- T A S T E
---- Taste.
We just heard from
this New Testament reading called “Hebrews” that Jesus tasted death for the
sake of all.
People who have tasted death - know the taste. People who
have tasted death often change.
Today is Holy Thursday…. Tonight we celebrate the
Passover Meal - that meal that Jesus celebrated on the night before he died. It
was his Last Supper.
It was to be the Meal we Christians have celebrated
millions and millions and millions of times ever since in memory of him.
It’s called “The Mass”. The Mass is the Passover
Meal.
Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
That night Jesus tasted bread. He took it - broke it -
and passed the broken bread out to his
disciples saying, “Taste, take and eat - this is my body.”
That night Jesus
tasted wine. He took it and passed it out to his disciples saying,
“Taste, take and drink - this is my
blood.”
Do this in memory of me.
That night Jesus tasted not just the future - but he also
tasted the past. Jesus was tasting memories. Jesus tasted the Pascal Lamb, the
bitter herbs, the bread, the wine.
Jesus tasted history in the Passover Meal which his
people had celebrated for centuries - in memory of the story - of their redemption, their salvation, in
becoming a people.
Jesus tasted the story of his people eating unleavened
bread in Egypt - they were in a rush - and then rushed to freedom from slavery
that night different from all other nights. It was their baptism - going
through the waters of their baptism - into freedom.
That night Jesus also tasted the future. Jesus tasted
fears about his apostles, his key followers - who would he called to do so much
in memory of him. He could taste and hear Peter’s denials. He could taste and fear
Judas’ betrayal. He could taste the tears in his eyes that these men would run
from him tonight in the Garden.
This Holy Thursday taste the past and taste the future.
Taste and chew on what Jesus was about: serving - washing
feet - going the extra mile - stopping on roads to feel who is tugging at the
edge of our sleeve - to hear who wants our time our skills and our love.
Taste Jesus’ total Holy Communion with his Father when he
could escape to be in prayer with his Father for at least an hour in the
mountains - or a garden - in the night -
in his inner room in secret.
Taste Jesus total Holy Communion with those who screamed
out for him for healing.
Taste interruptions.
Life is often about interruptions.
They cross us up every time.
Sometimes we have to eat quickly - do what we have to do
quickly - even if what we do is unleavened - not finished enough - not good
enough - and we feel like broken bread and quickly sipped wine.
It’s life 101.
Holy Thursday is here. It passes over us over and over
again - year after year - after year.
We get a good taste of it today - and every day we are at
Mass - and every time we wash feet - and
every time get out onto the street for another day of life.
This reflection was just a taste of one word - “TASTE” - from one small section of the New Testament
document called “Hebrews”. It gives us a
tiny taste of what the whole book is about - the Mass - the Eucharist - the mystery
and history of Passover Meal.
This reflection for Holy Thursday gave us a taste of some
of things Jesus was feeling that day - that Holy Week - that Horrible Week.
Jesus is telling us expect betrayals and denials - expect
people who can’t stay with us for an hour - expect night - expect rejections
and not being understood at times - expect the cross.
But above all expect Resurrection.
Expect Easter - expect forgiveness - expect full nets -
with fresh catches of fish. Expect new mornings with the taste of breakfast
with Jesus on our breath. Amen.
