I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered

 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is My body."  Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you.  For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.  But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom."  And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written:

'I will strike the Shepherd,
And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'

"But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee."  Peter answered and said to Him, "Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble."  Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times."  Peter said to Him, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!"  And so said all the disciples.

- Matthew 26:26-35

Yesterday we read that on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying to Him, "Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?"  And he said, "Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, 'The Teacher says, "My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at your house with My disciples," ' "  So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover.  When evening had come, He sat down with the twelve.  Now as they were eating, He said, "Assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me."  And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and each of them began to say to Him, "Lord, is it I?"  He answered and said, "He who dipped his hand with Me in the dish will betray Me."  And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and each of them began to say to Him, "Lord, is it I?"  He answered and said, "He who dipped his hand with Me in the dish will betray Me.  The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed!  It would have been good for that man if he had not been born."  Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, "Rabbi, is it I?"  He said to him, "You have said it."

 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is My body."  Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you.  For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."  Here is the institution of the Eucharist by Jesus; it is the long-awaited messianic banquet (as my study bible describes it), to which He admits notably even Judas (compare Esther 7), as Christ still seeks by all means to save Judas.  As his heart was wicked, the participation of Judas leads to his condemnation (1 Corinthians 11:27-30).  Christ's words are repeated in the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom (the universal template for Christian liturgy), inviting the faithful to receive His body and blood.  In Holy Communion, we are truly united to Christ.  Jesus gave thanks (in the original Greek, this verb, eucharisteo/ευχαριστεω is the root for "eucharist").  My study bible says this teaches us first, how we are to celebrate this sacrament; second, that Christ comes willingly to His Passion, and finally that we are to accept even sufferings with thankfulness -- understanding that God can use sufferings for ultimate good.  The Old Covenant, it explains, was sealed with the blood of bulls and goats.  The New is sealed by the gift of Christ, who shed His own blood to conquer sin and death -- and to reconcile us with God.  Christ names it the blood of the new covenant:  God's promise and the fulfillment of the Law.  By "new," my study bible says, He means that this covenant brings immortality and incorruptible life; this covenant will always have the quality of newness.  For many, as noted in previous readings in Matthew, is an Aramaic expression meaning "for all" (see, for example, 20:24-28).

"But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom."   The patristic commentators teach that Jesus also drinks this cup of His own Blood.  This He does to lead all believers into participation in His heavenly mysteries.  In My Father's kingdom relates to the time after His Resurrection, when Christ will eat and drink before the disciples in order to show the reality of His victory over death (Luke 24:41-43).  Additionally, this references the eternal banquet of the Kingdom in the age to come.

And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.  We note the tradition of Passover.   After the meal, it is likely Jesus and the disciples sung Psalms 115-118.

Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written:  'I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'  But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee."  St. John Chrysostom comments that Christ cites the prophecy (Zechariah 13:7) which shows both His adherence and participation in the Old Covenant (for it was through this that the prophecy was given), but also besides giving clear warning what will happen this night, Jesus at the same time gives assurance that all is happening within a greater plan of salvation.  Moreover, we as readers are asked to compare the disciples who are unable to stand their ground at Christ's Crucifixion, but the same men will take the gospel to the whole world after His death.  I will go before you to Galilee is an assurance to them of the Resurrection.

Peter answered and said to Him, "Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble."  Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times."  Peter said to Him, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!"  And so said all the disciples.  The Gospels give us Peter's bravado, which leads him into not only denying Christ's word, but making of himself a liar.  St. John Chrysostom suggests that possibly the passion for recognition is still actively at work, the disciples' desire for greatness which has repeatedly come as questions as they drew nearer to Jerusalem.  Peter's failure will be a great lesson in humility, as Christ has repeatedly taught the disciples as the moment of His Crucifixion drew nearer and in response to their questions about great places in His kingdom (see, for example, this reading).  Let us note also that the rest of the disciples are persuaded by Peter's emphatic declaration to say the same, and so all effectively become liars in denial of Christ's prophecy, as all will be scattered at the Crucifixion.

What is betrayal, and how do we think about it?  In yesterday's reading, we read of and commented on Judas' betrayal of Christ (also upcoming in our readings next week).  In today's reading, Jesus not only institutes the Eucharist, but He also predicts Peter's denial of him, which Peter vehemently denies.  We could ironically say that the Eucharist is established and offered on this eve of betrayal and denials -- before the disciples are scattered and flee at His Crucifixion (Matthew 26:56, Mark 14:50, John 16:32) -- as healing offering and sacrament for the ills that will come from their separation, and even the ailments of the world.  It is instituted once and for all time, for all of us, as the way to call us back to God, back into communion.  But let us note, as does the commentary in my study bible, that the sacrament isn't a cure-all in the sense that it works against our own free will choice:  even such powerful help needs our assent, just as it only results in deeper condemnation for Judas as he still follows through with betrayal and fails to return to communion.  In a certain sense, any denial or betrayal of Christ on our part is effectively a denial or betrayal of ourselves, as we truly and ultimate "come to ourselves" when we find ourselves and our identity in Christ.  This is, in effect, the long -- lifelong -- process of our faith, a constant coming to Christ.  In the world of brokenness we will find many betrayals and denials, some in ourselves and some from others.  But ultimately, broken communion with ourselves or others reflects a deep need for our own spiritual communion with Christ, and it is there that all things are healed.  Indeed, it is there that good may come from evil, just as Resurrection comes from Crucifixion.  The Gospels do not spare us the failings of the disciples, even betrayal by Judas, and even though all are chosen by Jesus (John 6:70).  They give us a picture of ourselves in our own failings, and teach us the need we have to return to Christ in our failings, to see our way through an imperfect life.  The Eucharist always gives us an image of the union we desire, the ultimate healing, and is also called Communion for this reason.  In our places where we also miss the mark, let us consider that life in this journey of faith is a learning curve for us, as it was for the Twelve.  But even as we enter times of hardship and difficulty, darkness and testing -- even evil -- we must do so with awareness that He is with us, and with Him even the worst of times, when all are scattered, can be used for greater good.  We don't live in a perfect world, we live in a world where evil is present in the form of hardships, temptations, suffering, and death.  Our Lord goes to the Cross, but we are invited in our own lives to participate in communion with Him.  From the Cross comes Resurrection.  As we are called to bear our own crosses in life and live through His faith, so we also attend Resurrection in our own lives, in every possible form, and we are drawn, like the disciples, ever closer to Him through this process.