The Last Supper holds a central place in Christian spirituality, as it marks the final meal Jesus shared with His disciples before His crucifixion. This observance emphasizes the theme of communion with Jesus, both in the physical act of sharing a meal and in the spiritual connection it represents. During this meal, Jesus instituted the sacrament of Holy Communion, offering bread as His body and wine as His blood, symbolizing the new covenant between God and humanity. Through this act, Jesus invites His followers into a deeper relationship with Him, one rooted in His sacrificial love and the promise of eternal life.

The focus on communion during the Last Supper highlights the intimate connection between Christ and His followers. By partaking in the bread and wine, Christians remember Jesus' body broken for them and His blood shed for the forgiveness of sins. This sacrament is not only a remembrance of Christ's sacrifice but also a means of grace, uniting believers with Jesus and with each other in the body of Christ. It is a moment of spiritual nourishment, where Christians experience communion with the Savior and with the broader community of faith.

The Last Supper serves as an opportunity to reflect on the depth of Jesus' love and His call to live in unity and humility. It is a moment to examine one's relationship with Christ and others, as Jesus also washed His disciples' feet, modeling servant leadership. Through the observance of this sacred meal, Christians are reminded that communion with Jesus is both an invitation to partake in His life and a call to live out His love in the world. The Last Supper, in its sacramental and communal aspects, remains a profound expression of Jesus' ongoing presence with His followers.

Reading: Luke 22:14-20

“How can I repay the Lord for all his acts of kindness to me? I will celebrate my deliverance,
and call on the name of the Lord..” (Ps 116.12-13)

Liturgy:

On the night in which Jesus was betrayed, he took bread. When he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “Take, eat. This is my body, which is broken for you. Do this in memory of me.” In the same way he also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink, in memory of me." And the death your Christ died, he died to sin once for all, and having been raised from the dead, death no longer has dominion over him. Therefore, as often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s life-giving death until He comes.

Prayer:

Gracious Father, we give you praise and thanks for this Holy Communion of the body and blood of your beloved Son Jesus Christ, the pledge of our redemption; and we thank you for giving us through Jesus forgiveness of sins, strength in our weakness, and everlasting salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Action:

Consider serving each other communion. As you serve or receive communion, tell one another:

“The body of Christ, broken for you.” “The blood of Christ, shed for you.”