Holy Thursday- the Last Supper

 Holy Thurday

The Last Supper

It is Holy Thursday.

I am preparing for a feast on Sunday.

There is a lot to do-

Plan the menu, shop, set the table

cook, clean

make adequate space for the guests.

It was no different on that Holy Thursday.

Someone like me prepared the supper.

Someone like me set the table.

Someone like me expected a special guest.

Someone like me found enough chairs

and enough plates and cups

And someone like me had Jesus come for dinner.

The women were busy that day

making all the preparations.

By the time they served the meal, they must have been exhuasted.

But they were there.

And when Jesus broke the bread, and said the blessing

he said it for everyone

and when he shared the bread he shared it with all, the women too.

And when he blessed the cup

and shared it-

he shared it with the women too

Giving thanks to God for His greatness.

I imagine Jesus thanked the women for preparing the food

perhaps complimenting some delcious portion he tasted

knowing the loving work it takes to make a Passover feast.

I imagine the hostess, nervous at first,

was calmed by Jesus

as he humbly washed the feet of his disciples

until in gratitude tried to wash hers....

Today

We are all welcome at the Table of the Lord.

We are given a gift of being at the Last Supper

 every time we partake of the Eucharist.

Today

 we can remember that women made the bread

served the meal

and

ate the bread

and

drank of the cup

with Jesus
and

are deeply loved by him. 

Then and now.

Linda has shared a beautiful poem she came across just recently in America Magazine,
written by a woman- a nun

Sister Lou Ella Hickman

“a woman at the last supper”

i knew exactly what he meant

for I know about body and blood

as well as flowers and yeast and sewing

he used words I could understand about giving life

and during those moments

I felt the world revolved around me instead of only men

but now

there are dishes to wash, a floor to sweep

and food to put away

yes, I know about body and blood; about giving life

and I will remember