This week we continue our series on Holy Week as we look at Chapter 5 of Amy-Jill Levine’s book Entering Christ’s Passion: Holy Week for Beginners, “Risking the Loss of Friends.” The Scripture passage this week is from Luke 22:14-27.
As we continue through Holy Week and near Easter, we arrive at a profoundly moving gathering of Jesus with his disciples. Gathering for the Passover celebration, Jesus does something extraordinary. Told differently in the Gospels (read Matthew 26, Mark 14, and John 13), we may understand Jesus in his most intimate moments. He teaches about service and friendship and sacrifice and love.
This meal is so meaningful that it has uniquely shaped the Christian tradition. Denominations differ on practice and requirements, and yet are generally unified in the idea that the celebration of Holy Communion is a vital worship experience. Our own United Methodist tradition approved and published a 40+ page document in 2000 outlining the deep theological importance of this experience for the people called Methodists. In our celebration, we honor the real and tangible presence of Christ inviting us to participate and to connect in relationship.
Luke 22:14-27
14 When the time came, Jesus took his place at the table, and the apostles joined him. 15 He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 I tell you, I won’t eat it until it is fulfilled in God’s kingdom.” 17 After taking a cup and giving thanks, he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. 18 I tell you that from now on I won’t drink from the fruit of the vine until God’s kingdom has come.” 19 After taking the bread and giving thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 In the same way, he took the cup after the meal and said, “This cup is the new covenant by my blood, which is poured out for you.
21 “But look! My betrayer is with me; his hand is on this table. 22 The Human One goes just as it has been determined. But how terrible it is for that person who betrays him.” 23 They began to argue among themselves about which of them it could possibly be who would do this.
24 An argument broke out among the disciples over which one of them should be regarded as the greatest.
25 But Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles rule over their subjects, and those in authority over them are called ‘friends of the people.’ 26 But that’s not the way it will be with you. Instead, the greatest among you must become like a person of lower status and the leader like a servant. 27 So which one is greater, the one who is seated at the table or the one who serves at the table? Isn’t it the one who is seated at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.
Consider these questions:
- When you think about the celebration of Holy Communion, where do you understand its source? Is it the scripture above? Another text or tradition? Is its source the church in which you grew up or first participated? What does it mean for you?
- In these times of physical distancing and online worship, perhaps the celebration of Holy Communion has taken on a different experience. What has that experience been? Is it the same or different? Why?
- In the scriptures, the celebration comes with teaching. In the text above, Jesus teaches about servanthood; in John he commands them to love one another. In what ways to you think Jesus might be teaching or instructing you when you participate in the celebration of Holy Communion? How do you respond?