Matthew 26:26-30, Pt 1

Find a place and time free of distractions for the next 7-10 minutes. Sit comfortably and breathe deeply for a few seconds before you begin. As you breathe in, say the name of Jesus and become aware of his presence with you. As you breathe out, open your mind and heart to receive whatever Jesus has for you today.

Because of the pivotal importance of today’s passage, we’ll take two days to explore it. Read Matthew 26:26-30 as if you were there at the table with Jesus.

For those engaged in organized Christian religion, the words of today’s passage are probably a bit overly familiar. They are spoken each time a congregation observes the sacrament of Communion, or the Lord’s Supper. In this first “Last Supper” which will be remembered and reenacted by Jesus followers for centuries to come, Jesus invites his disciples to be nourished and sated by him before he offers himself up for all of humanity.

Every time this scene is remembered by a group of Jesus followers through the act of Communion, a bit of this moment in the upper room, a moment filled with the physical presence of Jesus, will be infused into the present.

Take a moment to focus on the first element offered by Jesus: the bread.

“…Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take this and eat it, for this is my body.””

As you contemplate what it means to feed on Jesus, share your thoughts openly with him.

Read Matthew 26:26-30 again with this in mind.

Bread is a universal basic form of nourishment for our physical bodies. But we are not just physical beings. We are body, soul and spirit intertwined and inseparable, and we need more than a loaf of bread to be holistically nourished. When we enter into conversation with God through Scripture and allow ourselves to be swept up into the epic story of God’s loving pursuit of broken humanity, we find nourishment for our souls. And when we cultivate an awareness of Jesus’ presence with us through solitude, listening prayer, silence and Christian community, Jesus feeds our hungry spirits with himself.

For the remainder of this time of meditation, get quiet and take some time to assess the condition of your whole self – body, soul and spirit. Are you tired? content? hungry? sick? something else? Share this with Jesus and ask him for whatever it is you desire in this regard.

Then listen to him.

Is there anything Jesus is prompting you to do or stop doing today?

What will you do about that?

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