Last Supper 1

Luke 22:19-20

When I was very young I attended Catholic mass with my cousins and witnessed the ritual of Holy Communion being performed in a way I had never seen before. For years and years my family joked about my comments after that service. I had thought the priest was performing a magic act. But Communion is not a magic act. It has deep meaning and purpose.

The passage for today should be one familiar to most. It is what Holy Communion is based on, the actions instituted and begun by Jesus himself. What did he do with the bread? What did he say of the bread? What did he say of the wine?

The actions Jesus took at the Last Supper with his disciples were more than simple ritual. They had deeper meaning. The bread Jesus used was likely the bread that had been hidden as part of the Seder Meal tradition, hidden to be found again and celebrated.

As Jesus took this bread and gave it new meaning it is probable that the disciples recognized how important this was. It was more than just a bit of bread that was part of the meal. Jesus gave it more significance.

The same is true of the cup of wine. It was likely the cup of salvation, also part of the Seder Meal. Now the disciples were made aware that Jesus was offering salvation.

The ritual of Communion can be very stylized and become something that is performed without thought or emotion. We know what we are to do in Communion, but we may overlook why we do it and what it means.

By taking part in Communion we are being reminded that we need to take part in Jesus. His body was given for us, broken on the cross so that we might have salvation. His blood was poured out so that we might be forgiven of our sins.

But to gain this salvation and forgiveness we need to partake. We need to make room for Christ in our lives. We must open our hearts to allow this grace and love of God to enter in. We must accept this salvation, this sacrifice, and make it part of who we are, how we act, how we live, how we behave in our lives of faith.

DAILY CHALLENGE: What can you do to show that Jesus is the bread and wine for you, the very source of sustenance in your faith life?