Prayer:
O Jesus, prepare my heart for Holy Communion.
Imagination:
Picture Jesus at the Last Supper with his apostles.
Context:
Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and preached there during Holy Week. Knowing that he would be crucified, he gathers his apostles for his Last Supper. Then, he gives his greatest gift, his own Body and Blood as their food and drink.
Gospel Text: (Read slowly, possibly aloud.)
On the first day of the Unleavened Bread, when the Passover was sacrificed, his disciples asked Jesus, “Where do you want us to go to prepare the Passover supper for you?” He said to two disciples, “Go into the city. There you will find a man carrying a water jar. Follow him and whatever house he enters, say to the owner, The Master says, ‘Where is the guestroom where I might eat my Passover with my disciples?’ He will show you a large upper room, furnished and all in order. There you will prepare a place for us.”
The disciples went off. When they arrived at the city, they found it exactly as Jesus said and they prepared the Passover supper.
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke and gave it to them saying, “Take this. This is my body.” Taking the chalice and giving thanks, he gave it to them. They all drank from it. He said to them, “This is my blood, the blood of the covenant, which shall be shed for many. Amen I say to you, that I will no more drink of the wine until that day when I drink it anew in the Kingdom of God.” After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Thoughts: (Read all. Ponder the ones that attract you.)
- The Passover is the most important night, the greatest moment.
- The special preparations are a sign of the importance of this meal.
- The Upper Room becomes very holy – the place of the Eucharist, of appearances by the Risen Jesus and of the descent of the Spirit. What a room!
- It is large and well furnished, worthy of its greatness in history.
- Jesus’ giving is total. He gives his body, his blood, his life, his soul, and his divinity. All are present in the Eucharist.
- This meal inaugurates the Kingdom. A covenant of blood exists between God and man.
- This covenant is heavenly, looking forward to the new wine of the Kingdom.
- The night ends with singing and then that fateful walk to the Garden of Gethsemane.
Affections: (When one touches your heart, use your own words.)
- O Jesus, I will prepare my heart. It will become a large room furnished with the greatest of virtues.
- O Jesus, you give yourself totally. I will give myself totally to you.
- In this Eucharist, You come. You are in our midst.
- You make a covenant with me, a pledge of eternal life in your Kingdom.
- O Jesus, I must sing. My heart overflows at this banquet.
- Prepare me for my suffering and death.
Resolutions: (Possibly you might want to make your own.)
+ I will attend Mass as often as possible, even daily.
+ I will offer my body and blood to Jesus.
Thought for the day: (To recall your meditation.)
Take and eat. Take and drink.