Theme: Jesus invites us to self-examine ourselves at every Eucharist.
Scripture reading: Is. 50:4-9; Ps. 68:8-10, 21-22, 31,33-34; Mt. 26:14-25
We are in the Holy week. It is interesting to note all the readings of the last three days. What is in the focus? Some of us might think that the disciples or more specially Judas Iscariot is mentioned in all the Gospel reading. Their names are appearing in all the Gospels texts of last three days. But we need to pay attention to the settings of all the Gospel texts of last three days. It is the setting of meal. On Monday, we found Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus anointing Jesus while he was at supper with his disciples. On Tuesday, Judas leaves Jesus when they were at last supper. And today, Jesus predicts about the betrayal by one of his closest disciples.
In the Ancient Near Eastern culture, the meal was considered to have very close relationship with whom they shared it. Sharing meal is considered to help us to get connected with people with who we share our joys and sorrows. Meal is not shared only for sustenance but more than that. We should not wonder Jesus chose a meal as a symbol to remain with his disciples forever.
The last supper of Jesus with his disciples was a Passover celebration. It is the foundation of the Sacrament of Eucharist. Who were invited for the last supper? The twelve disciples. At the supper, Jesus shared with them bread and wine as his body and blood but also made them aware that one of them was about to betray him. It was a soul searching question. It was a call of self-examination. The disciples were prompt to re-question him “is it I?” but refused to introspect. The announcement of betrayal and the disciples’ response during the last supper was the call to self-examination.
The last supper is the pre-figuration of the sacrament of Eucharist. The baptized members are the disciples at the Eucharistic meal. Jesus poses similar question to us at the table of the Eucharist to make self-examination, “will you betray me?” Judas sold Jesus for three pieces of silver. Peter denied three times to save himself. The rest of the disciples ran away to save their lives from the Garden of Gethsemane. There were together with Jesus at the last supper. They were also invited to Eucharistic banquet at Calvary where Jesus would break his body and shed his precious blood. The actual realization of the words of Jesus during the last supper took place on the cross.
At every Eucharist, Jesus invites us to self-examine ourselves; will I be faithful to Jesus at the foot of Cross? In other words, will I cling to Jesus in our sufferings? May this Holy Week help us to make self-examination that we may remain faithful to Our Lord.
Fr. Alex D’Mello