Understanding the Eucharist

Eucharist

LUKE 22:8-13; 17-20
So Jesus said to Peter and John, ‘Go and prepare the Passover meal for us to eat.’ But they asked, ‘Where do you want us to prepare it?’ Jesus told them, ‘As you go into the city, you will meet a man carrying a jar of water. Follow him into the house and say to the owner, “Our teacher wants to know where he can eat the Passover meal with his disciples.” The owner will take you upstairs and show you a large room ready for you to use. Prepare the meal there.’ Peter and John left. They found everything just as Jesus had told them, and they prepared the Passover meal.

Jesus took a cup of wine in his hands and gave thanks to God. Then he told the apostles, ‘Take this wine and share it with each other. I tell you that I will not drink any more wine until God’s kingdom comes. Jesus took some bread in his hands and gave thanks for it. He broke the bread and handed it to his apostles. Then he said, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Eat this as a way of remembering me!’ After the meal he took another cup of wine in his hands. Then he said, ‘This is my blood. It is poured out for you, and with it God makes his new agreement.’

COMMENTARY
Jesus celebrated the Passover meal in Jerusalem with his disciples the night before he died. The Passover meal was (and still is) a very important meal to Jewish people that commemorates the Exodus. This meal, celebrated by Jesus, is now called the Last Supper. Like all important meals, it was prepared for in a special way (Luke 22: 7-18).

The Passover was a communal celebration. Usually families celebrated the Passover together and so it is interesting to note who Jesus chose to celebrate this, his final Passover, with – his closest friends and followers. The communal aspect of the Eucharist is far more than a group of people sharing a meal, it is the coming together of those who share the belief in the Kingdom of God. When people go to Mass they are remembering Jesus’ Life, Death and Resurrection and making a communal commitment to go and share God’s love in the world.

The night before he was crucified, Jesus took bread and wine, and said to his Apostles:
Take this all of you, and eat of it, for this is my body…
Take this all of you, and drink from it for this is the chalice of my blood…
Do this in memory of me.’ (Roman Missal, Eucharistic Prayers)

The Apostles in their ministry carried out this command of Jesus. They knew that each time they repeated the actions and words of Jesus at the Last Supper, Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit would change the bread and wine into his Body and Blood. The followers of Jesus have continued to carry out this command to take, bless, break and give in the same way throughout time by celebrating the Eucharist.

FOR REFLECTION
• I wonder how the disciples felt when they shared this special meal with Jesus.
• I wonder how Peter and John felt about getting the special meal ready for Jesus and their friends.
• I wonder what Jesus and his disciples talked about at the Last Supper.
• Why was the Last Supper so important to Jesus?
• Why is it so important to us?
• I wonder how the disciples felt about being all together with Jesus to share this special meal.
• Have you seen some of the actions that Jesus did in the Last Supper story at Mass?
• Have you heard some of the words that Jesus said in the Last Supper story at Mass?