INTRODUCTION

Jesus loved having meals with the people he loved. He ate with all sorts of people, sharing stories (including stories about feasts), healing and forgiving, sometimes calling out, and probably sharing much laughter (even if scripture doesn’t record this). It’s no surprise that his last meal with his friends—what we call the Last Supper—is central to who we are as people of faith. Like Jesus, we gather to eat with all sorts of people. We share the stories of Jesus, heal and forgive, and often laugh when we gather. Jesus’ Last Supper has been transformed into Our Supper with him still present in the bread of his body and the wine of his blood. Jesus loves having meals with the people he loves—us.

This Lent our spiritual practices have encouraged us to grow deeper in our love relationship with God. They have asked us to stretch ourselves by being in conversation with God, letting go of the life clutter that keeps us from remembering who we are as God’s beloved children, and resting in trust. Encouraged and stretched, we begin Holy Week with shouts of praise on Palm Sunday that turn to tears of grief on Good Friday. In between, there is this intimate meal that promises us that no dark day of crosses can extinguish the light of love in Jesus. As we gather for this meal during Holy Week and beyond, it is reminder that Love that is resurrected on Easter and remains with us forever.