Matthew 26:26-30 | I Corinthians 11:23-26 | Gospels in Lent Track: Luke 23-24
Jesus told the disciples to do a lot of different things. He had and has many expectations of the Church. Among many responsibilities, they include feeding those who are hungry, seeing to the liberation of imprisoned people, loving God & neighbor, washing each others’ feet, going to all nations, etc.
When one stops and thinks about it, it’s fairly remarkable that the table of communion - something Jesus indeed instituted - has such a firm foundation in the practice of the Church while many of those other things do not. There are many (good?) reasons for this. Celebrating together at the eucharistic table as both a remembrance and foretaste is formative for the body of Christ.
But what about those other things…?
(This is totally an aside, but this is also the only place where we find Jesus having anything positive to do with music in the gospel story - singing a hymn.1 Of course, we can imagine that he sang psalms of ascent on his way to Jerusalem or at a wedding, etc., but music isn’t nearly as prominent in Jesus’ story in the gospels as it is in the Church’s practice today.)
Matthew 26:26-30
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take and eat. This is my body.” He took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from this, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many so that their sins may be forgiven. I tell you, I won’t drink wine again until that day when I drink it in a new way with you in my Father’s kingdom.” Then, after singing songs of praise, they went to the Mount of Olives.
I Corinthians 11:23-26
I received a tradition from the Lord, which I also handed on to you: on the night on which he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread. After giving thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this to remember me.” He did the same thing with the cup, after they had eaten, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Every time you drink it, do this to remember me.” Every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you broadcast the death of the Lord until he comes.
Prayer
God -
Thank you for the Church. Thank you for what Jesus established in the Church. And thank you for what Jesus taught through the Church, including the institution of the table of grace. I am different, changed, and better because of celebrating communion with my brothers and sisters in the body of Christ at Jesus’ invitation.
But Lord, help us to let the table form what we do the rest of the week. Make Christ’s commands come alive in my actions beyond receiving the grace that he has offered to me at the table. Find with me the poor, the marginalized, the least, the last, the lost. Find in me the willingness to extend the same hospitality and compassion I’ve received at the table.
By your Spirit and in Christ,
Amen.
The only other time in the gospels Jesus has anything to do with music, he tells some flute players at a funeral to go away. Matthew 9:23-24