Maundy Thursday 6pm

Thursday
6pm   

My Body…My Blood

While they were eating, Jesus  took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body.’ Then he took the cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.’ (Matthew 26: 26-29)

‘This is my body…this is my  blood.’  Those words must have brought the conversation around the table to an end.  What was he saying to them? They had heard him say ‘I am the bread of life’ (John 6:35), they had heard him say ‘Come to me all who are thirsty’ (John 7:37).  But now he takes bread and breaks it, takes the cup and shares it and brings them into a new place. It matters not how ‘high’ or low our church tradition is, we know that when we hear these words we hear the words echoing through the centuries, echoing from the Upper Room to the room where our community of faith is gathered and is breaking bread. Time is concertinaed and we are at the one table, at the one meal, with the one Lord, sharing in the one bread.