Matthew 26:17-30
On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”
He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’” So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.
When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”
They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don't mean me, Lord?”
Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”
Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don't mean me, Rabbi?”
Jesus answered, “You have said so.”
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”
Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.”
When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
For the past couple of weeks, Ive been watching out my window as some great big oak trees are cut down in the yard of the Church and Parsonage. While it is being done to keep everyone safe, there is something sad about watching those proud oaks being stripped of their branches, felled, and eventually reduced to a stump. It's hard not to think of all the many years they've given us. I've had the chance to listen in the yard as Church members tell me (from 6 feet away) their memories around some of those trees: weddings, egg hunts, Sunday mornings in autumn... Someone estimated they've been around for at least 150 years. And they've given us so much. I couldn't help but think, these past few weeks, about that old children's book by Shel Silverstein: "THE GIVING TREE..."
Of course the story isn't really about trees. It's about self-sacrificial love. Can you imagine a love so great that a tree would be willing to give its own branches and trunk for a self-centered child? How about a love so great that a man would be willing to give his own body and blood for you and me?
1 John 3:16 says: "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us, so we outhitting to lay down our live for our brothers and sisters."
Each of us is an unmerited receiver of God's self-sacrificial love. And each of us is also called to a giver of that same kind of love for others.
This evening, through the miracle of technology, we will be able to participate in communion with one another to commemorate the night of the last supper. Though we stay in our own homes, we are coming to a table. Not just any table... "The Giving Table..." Where Jesus offers himself to us. Not just part of himself... all of himself... every limb.
In preparation for tonight, let us spend some time reflecting on the love of God and the God of love... Who finds us in our brokenness and self-centeredness and offers everything he has and is just to be in a relationship with us.
Lord, We are often self-centered and ungrateful. We take and take without showing our appreciation. But you are ever kind, ever generous, ever loving... Help prepare our hearts to experience your sacrificial love so that we may leave the table tonight as self-giving disciples. Amen.
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