From today’s reading...
And as they were eating he took bread, and when he had said the blessing he broke it and gave it to them. ‘Take it,’ he said, 'this is my body.’” Mark 14:22
Today we celebrate and commemorate the living Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, which He gave us at the Last Supper.
Note His instructions to His apostles today: “Take it. This is my body.”
We must open ourselves to receive what is freely given.
To do so, we must understand what it is we are given.
The Twelve would understand what Jesus was giving them.
They knew what the Passover meal was, what it meant, what it commemorated.
This was not a convenience store ham and cheese sandwich sealed in plastic, sold with chips and a soda for $6.79.
They believed the salvation of their very souls depended upon the proper celebration of this meal.
The meat, bread, and wine used for these meals all had deep meaning going back 1400 years or more.
It was the 4th of July + Easter + New Year’s Eve all rolled into one…and it still is for Jews today.
So for Jesus to not only modify this celebration, but to tell them He was the new Bread of Life was profound, scary, confusing, and exciting, which is why it went over their heads at the time.
But you and I know how this story ended and has continued.
You know what happened later that night, early the following day, and at noon and 3 pm the next day.
You know about Easter and Pentecost.
You know how to receive your daily bread, which is Jesus, which He gave freely to you me, so we could...
Stay the course.
Keep the faith.
Endure.
Now go sell something.
