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When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. Then He said to them, "With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves, for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me." Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you. But behold, the hand of My betrayer is with Me on the table. And truly the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!" Then they began to question among themselves, which of them it was who would do this thing.Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest. And He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called benefactors. But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves."But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel."
- Luke 22:14-30
In our recent readings, Jesus has been in Jerusalem. It is Passion Week. He entered Jerusalem in His Triumphal Entry, and wept over it, lamenting its lack of peace. He has cleansed the temple, and already run into confrontations with the leadership, as they asked Him, "Who is he who gave You this authority?". He told a parable against them, warning them of the times of the Gentiles and of Judgement. The leadership has tested Him regarding payment of taxes to the Romans, and life in the Resurrection. He has spoken against the hypocrisy of the scribes and tested them about Scripture, He pointed out the poor widow, who gave all she had to the treasury. He has spoken of the future destruction of the beautiful and magnificent temple, and the persecutions to come for the Church. He warned His disciples not only about the destruction of Jerusalem, but also about the end of the age and the signs thereof, saying, " Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near." He then taught the parable of the fig tree, and warned of what was coming, to look for the signs. He told them, Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away, and warned against preoccupation, and carelessness, to remember the Day that is coming. Each day the people came to hear Him in the temple, as He stayed with the pilgrims. In yesterday's reading, the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover.
And the chief priests and the scribes ought how they might kill Him, for
they feared the people. Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve. So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them. And they were glad, and
agreed to give him money. So he promised and sought opportunity to
betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude. Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be
killed. And He sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the
Passover for us, that we may eat." So they said to Him, "Where do You
want us to prepare?" And He said to them, "Behold, when you have
entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water,
follow him into the house which he enters. Then you shall say to the
master of the house, 'The Teacher says to you, "Where is the guest room
where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?" ' Then he will show
you a large furnished upper room; there make ready." So they went and
found it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover.
When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. Then He said to them, "With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." My study bible says, "The Passover signifies deliverance of the Hebrew people from Egypt. Now Jesus, with fervent desire, anticipates the great deliverance of humanity from the power of sin, which will be accomplished through His saving death, establishing the New Covenant. This Passover meal is the Last Supper, continued in the Eucharist of the Church, which is to be fulfilled in the kingdom of God."
Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves, for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." My study bible notes here that Luke reports the partaking of two cups, and that several cups were offered during the Passover meal. These passages so far in today's reading reflect something noted above in my study bible, that the continual Eucharist is ongoing, for it is "to be fulfilled in the Kingdom of God." Jesus will be the "firstfruit" in that Kingdom, but its process is ongoing, even to us in the present time, as we, too, look toward its fulfillment in the Kingdom.
And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me." A note here reads: "Christ is the Lamb of God who gives Himself as a sacrifice on the Cross for the salvation of the world. Remembrance in its biblical significance is a reliving of the original event. We do this through the sacred act of the Eucharist."
Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you." Again, another cup is taken, and this one in covenant. When we remember in the spiritual sense we not only relive, but we bring to ourselves the reality of the Person we recall -- and thus our covenant with Him.
"But behold, the hand of My betrayer is with Me on the table. And truly the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!" Then they began to question among themselves, which of them it was who would do this thing. My study bible says, "With these words Jesus looks ahead to His arrest and suffering. Although Christ goes as "has been determined" it doesn't lessen the weight and responsibility of the betrayal involved. Clearly He is speaking up to the one who is present who will do this, and it is a great warning, even as Judas has already negotiated to betray Him to those who wish to kill Him. It's not too late to turn back even now; we can see even at this time in the warning and condemnation of such an act, a desire to save Judas.
Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest. My study bible says here, "In view of Jesus' willingness to die for the world, the concern of the disciples over who among them is the greatest is reprehensibly small-minded." Clearly they sense from Christ's words that the Kingdom is near. They don't really understand what exactly is happening at all. Their first thoughts go to their position, showing they're not immune from the human weakness that pervades the society. Jesus has repeatedly and scathingly criticized the religious leadership for prizing position above all else.
And He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called benefactors." A note reads, "Some kings called themselves benefactors, a title which is not without irony considering their tyrannical rule." In a modern age, people of great wealth also may call themselves benefactors, and perhaps in doing so are practicing what we now call "public relations" in the face of widespread public disapproval of some business practices. In our modern times, we can look back a couple of centuries and see this happening in the rise of the great monopolies of the industrial age, for example. We can today look around ourselves and consider those in positions of great power, what they may be responsible for and the way they would like to be remembered and known. These "benefactors" in Jesus' time are examples He calls to mind in order to make a point to them.
"But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves." My study bible says, "Jesus Himself is the supreme example of His teaching that greatness consists in humble service to others." He is giving them a lesson on real leadership in His Church, an example to emulate.
"But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel." A note reads, "Jesus is not speaking of two different kingdoms but of one kingdom which will be fully revealed at His glorious return. Then, the disciples will sit on thrones occupying honorary positions as reward for sharing in Christ's trials." He will honor those who honor Him. In true answer to their question of position in the Kingdom, He refers to the end of the age, the fulfillment of the Kingdom of God. We remember He's speaking to the future Bishops, the Apostles and foundation of the Church. Each will serve in ways that imitate His sacrifice.
Christ's teachings initiate the age in which we now live. We remember Him in the things we do, especially in the sacrament of the Eucharist. But this remembrance is much more than remembrance in a conventional or colloquial sense. It is, as my study bible points out in a note, to relive the events. And it is even more than that, in the mystery of sacrament, we recall in a way that reunites us, makes Him present and a part of ourselves, and we renew the covenant we have with Him. In that we have His Kingdom among us and within us. The Christian life is one of participation, and even in the Eucharist He continues to give of Himself to each of us. In the many cups, we see His generous Spirit, the grace with which our lives are filled, that is always on offer to us. We see His giving, the nature of the service He has taught His Apostles. And so we may still wonder, and participate, and act. We may consider what it is to betray this love and this grace, this giving. We may consider the example to us of leadership: what is and what is not appropriate to this kingdom. His teaching in today's reading ends on a note of service, how His kingdom of earth is to be represented. And then there are the words of more remembrance, that they are the ones who continued with Him in His trials. The life in Christ is not an easy one, not simple. We may go through a lot of stumbling blocks and trials. Even in Judas' betrayal, it is not too late for him at this point to turn to His Lord for help, to stop and repent and undo what has been set in motion. We remain with Him, we remember Him, and we do so continually, with cup after cup. It is never too late to turn to the Lord, at each moment the cup is on offer. We continue with Him through His trials, and through those that may be given to us. Each moment His love and remembrance and presence is on offer to us.
When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. Then He said to them, "With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." My study bible says, "The Passover signifies deliverance of the Hebrew people from Egypt. Now Jesus, with fervent desire, anticipates the great deliverance of humanity from the power of sin, which will be accomplished through His saving death, establishing the New Covenant. This Passover meal is the Last Supper, continued in the Eucharist of the Church, which is to be fulfilled in the kingdom of God."
Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves, for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." My study bible notes here that Luke reports the partaking of two cups, and that several cups were offered during the Passover meal. These passages so far in today's reading reflect something noted above in my study bible, that the continual Eucharist is ongoing, for it is "to be fulfilled in the Kingdom of God." Jesus will be the "firstfruit" in that Kingdom, but its process is ongoing, even to us in the present time, as we, too, look toward its fulfillment in the Kingdom.
And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me." A note here reads: "Christ is the Lamb of God who gives Himself as a sacrifice on the Cross for the salvation of the world. Remembrance in its biblical significance is a reliving of the original event. We do this through the sacred act of the Eucharist."
Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you." Again, another cup is taken, and this one in covenant. When we remember in the spiritual sense we not only relive, but we bring to ourselves the reality of the Person we recall -- and thus our covenant with Him.
"But behold, the hand of My betrayer is with Me on the table. And truly the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!" Then they began to question among themselves, which of them it was who would do this thing. My study bible says, "With these words Jesus looks ahead to His arrest and suffering. Although Christ goes as "has been determined" it doesn't lessen the weight and responsibility of the betrayal involved. Clearly He is speaking up to the one who is present who will do this, and it is a great warning, even as Judas has already negotiated to betray Him to those who wish to kill Him. It's not too late to turn back even now; we can see even at this time in the warning and condemnation of such an act, a desire to save Judas.
Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest. My study bible says here, "In view of Jesus' willingness to die for the world, the concern of the disciples over who among them is the greatest is reprehensibly small-minded." Clearly they sense from Christ's words that the Kingdom is near. They don't really understand what exactly is happening at all. Their first thoughts go to their position, showing they're not immune from the human weakness that pervades the society. Jesus has repeatedly and scathingly criticized the religious leadership for prizing position above all else.
And He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called benefactors." A note reads, "Some kings called themselves benefactors, a title which is not without irony considering their tyrannical rule." In a modern age, people of great wealth also may call themselves benefactors, and perhaps in doing so are practicing what we now call "public relations" in the face of widespread public disapproval of some business practices. In our modern times, we can look back a couple of centuries and see this happening in the rise of the great monopolies of the industrial age, for example. We can today look around ourselves and consider those in positions of great power, what they may be responsible for and the way they would like to be remembered and known. These "benefactors" in Jesus' time are examples He calls to mind in order to make a point to them.
"But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves." My study bible says, "Jesus Himself is the supreme example of His teaching that greatness consists in humble service to others." He is giving them a lesson on real leadership in His Church, an example to emulate.
"But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel." A note reads, "Jesus is not speaking of two different kingdoms but of one kingdom which will be fully revealed at His glorious return. Then, the disciples will sit on thrones occupying honorary positions as reward for sharing in Christ's trials." He will honor those who honor Him. In true answer to their question of position in the Kingdom, He refers to the end of the age, the fulfillment of the Kingdom of God. We remember He's speaking to the future Bishops, the Apostles and foundation of the Church. Each will serve in ways that imitate His sacrifice.
Christ's teachings initiate the age in which we now live. We remember Him in the things we do, especially in the sacrament of the Eucharist. But this remembrance is much more than remembrance in a conventional or colloquial sense. It is, as my study bible points out in a note, to relive the events. And it is even more than that, in the mystery of sacrament, we recall in a way that reunites us, makes Him present and a part of ourselves, and we renew the covenant we have with Him. In that we have His Kingdom among us and within us. The Christian life is one of participation, and even in the Eucharist He continues to give of Himself to each of us. In the many cups, we see His generous Spirit, the grace with which our lives are filled, that is always on offer to us. We see His giving, the nature of the service He has taught His Apostles. And so we may still wonder, and participate, and act. We may consider what it is to betray this love and this grace, this giving. We may consider the example to us of leadership: what is and what is not appropriate to this kingdom. His teaching in today's reading ends on a note of service, how His kingdom of earth is to be represented. And then there are the words of more remembrance, that they are the ones who continued with Him in His trials. The life in Christ is not an easy one, not simple. We may go through a lot of stumbling blocks and trials. Even in Judas' betrayal, it is not too late for him at this point to turn to His Lord for help, to stop and repent and undo what has been set in motion. We remain with Him, we remember Him, and we do so continually, with cup after cup. It is never too late to turn to the Lord, at each moment the cup is on offer. We continue with Him through His trials, and through those that may be given to us. Each moment His love and remembrance and presence is on offer to us.
