Reflection for March 26 – Kate Heichler

Today’s Passage from The Bible: Mark 14:32-52

On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, his disciples said to him, ‘Where do you want us to go and make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?’ So, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, ‘Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him, and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, The Teacher asks, “Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?” He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.’ So, the disciples set out and went to the city, and found everything as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal.

When it was evening, he came with the twelve. And when they had taken their places and were eating, Jesus said, ‘Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.’ They began to be distressed and to say to him one after another, ‘Surely, not I?’ He said to them, ‘It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the bowl with me. For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.’

While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, ‘Take; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it. He said to them, ‘This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly I tell you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.’

When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. And Jesus said to them, ‘You will all become deserters; for it is written, “I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.” But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.’ Peter said to him, ‘Even though all become deserters, I will not.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Truly I tell you, this day, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.’ But he said vehemently, ‘Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.’ And all of them said the same.

Reflection – Kate Heichler

In today’s passage we meet Jesus in a place that should be very familiar to regular churchgoers, for we reenact this part of the story every Sunday – that last meal Jesus had with his followers, when nothing went according to custom and plan. Mark doesn’t tell us about the foot-washing we read about in John’s gospel, but he does include the similarly dislocating thing Jesus said about the bread and the wine – his body? His blood? What on earth was he talking about? 

We’ve all been at strained family meals, but this one seems the most laden with tension I’ve ever heard of. The cloak and dagger business of finding the room to rent. The talk of betrayal. The talk of his blood being shed for many, for them – and the insistent “Do this to remember me,” suggesting he would not be with them. No wonder they fell asleep in the Garden! No wonder they ran away, their promises notwithstanding. Would we have been any different? 

The next time you come to the eucharistic feast, the Holy Communion, the Last Supper, as some churches call it, imagine it as an actual meal, with friends, and maybe some you’re not so sure about, with Jesus as your host. He is the host at all our tables, and he still invites us to remember him in the breaking of the bread and the pouring of the wine.