Thoughts on the Last Supper

Holy Thursday marks the beginning of the sacred Triduum, or "three days."  There is so much taking place in this one event, the Last Supper. 

We see Jesus in the role of Servant as he humbles himself and washes the feet of his disciples.  I, personally, have a lot to learn from this one act.  Here is the King of the Universe bending down to do a most untasteful act of love and servanthood.   If he can lower himself in such a way, then who am I to complain about scrubbing a toilet or turning a dirty sock right side out to wash it?  And yet, these daily tasks do often send me into resentful rants.  Jesus, help me to remember how you willingly offered yourself for your disciples in this way, and help me to get over myself and know my true place as, not a queen, but a servant in my house.

And then he gave us himself in the Eucharist.  This is the greatest gift.  This was the first Mass and Holy Eucharist.  He shared his body and blood with his disciples, and then, through them, now down to us today.  He said, in John 6:54, "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life and I will raise him up on the last day."  Yes, this teaching is so difficult to understand.  Especially for a former Evangelical like myself.  It takes great faith to believe that the bread I eat and the wine I drink at mass are really his body, his blood,  that you he physically there, but I do believe it.  And I pray that I will remain faithful so that I will be raised up on the last day.  Only with your help, dear Father.  Please let your graces rain down upon me.

And after the supper, after Judas left to betray, he spoke some final thoughts to his disciples.  We remember and thank God for his gift of the ministerial priesthood.  He lovingly instructed them, prepared them for his absence, promised them the arrival of the Holy Spirit to lead them in the truth, and prayed for them.  These were our first priests, with Peter as our first Pope.  He had taught them and prayed for them, and now he was leaving them in the hands of the Holy Spirit.  He prayed that they and we would all be one.  (John 17:20-21)

After supper, they all went to the garden and Jesus prayed and was arrested, and thus began his Passion.