ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
Maundy Thursday Etching #2
Sharing the Passover Meal
Scripture: Luke 22:19-20
Then Jesus took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
A Reflection: A lot of folks, when referencing this passage, will say: “This is my body broken for you…” But here, Jesus uses the word given. When Paul retells the story to the community in Corinth, he uses the word broken, but not the Gospel writers. I can’t offer a reason for that, but I am drawn to the word given. I don’t necessarily believe I need the body of Jesus to be broken, though the crucifixion – the breaking of his body – was a result of his ministry of love and mercy. And I do need the love and mercy. What I hear with the word given is how God has and continues to give love and mercy to all creation. It was not a one time event, but the nature of God continuing to demonstrate the nature of God. In the giving of himself, the response Jesus received was to have his body broken. Giving is what God does and what Jesus does, and breaking is what some in the world do in response. For this reason, I must always be aware of how some people in the world will respond to love and mercy, yet I continue to be most interested in how God gives in spite of the response.
Prayer: Your giving, O Bread of Life, never ceases. You continue to give of yourself even when some seek to cause you harm. On this Maundy Thursday, I celebrate your giving that knows no ending. Amen.
