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4 de Octubre 2008
you asked for it
here is the eucharist reading from vespers, thanksgiving 2007
It was Passover. The time for thinking about the blood of the lamb on the doorposts telling the angel of death to pass by, Passover.
13 men huddled, perhaps hiding away together. As the sun set they looked over the food before them. Each dish a familiar symbol.
But that night Jesus refused to give them the tradition they had hoped would comfort them.
He stood up and they thought of their fathers reciting the traditional Passover blessings, telling them to remember their past.
He took the bread in his hands and asked God to bless it, he broke it, the way his earthly father had done so many times, but this time he said
"when you eat this bread, don't remember running from Egypt, don't remember fear or death. Remember me. I will nourish you."
And they ate. They probably spoke carefully to each other. Perhaps Peter told a weak joke or two, he was always embarrassing himself.
As they felt their bellies full and leaned away from the table Jesus stopped them,
"I want you to remember me. I want you to think of me when you pour wine. Today is a day to think of blood when you see the deep red that you so freely pour on holy days like today." He asked God's blessing on the wine in his cup and said "Don't think about the blood of lambs anymore, think of my blood. Think of the days I taught you that you must shed blood for your brothers. Think of the good that comes from pain, from sacrifice. Think of my blood, the human blood that runs in me now. It is just like yours and it hurts me to bleed for you but I love you; I would do anything for you--remember that!"
As we eat this meal together remember there is redemption in this food. Come to this table with your hunger pangs and heartache, bring your sadness and anger with you. Fill up your angry spots with the blessing of Broken Bread and the sweetness of the Bitter Cup.
The table is set, the bread is broken, the wine is poured out. The blood has been shed from arms, legs, a heart that felt real human pain. Remember that God has experienced our pain. God knows how to nourish us.
Feel and feed the painful places, eat, drink and be satisfied, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
help yourself | By crymytinyflood | 2:53 PM
