“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom
and knowledge of God! These words of St. Paul are appropriate for the great
mystery which we are celebrating today—the institution of the Eucharist. In
this sacred meal, Jesus reveals his deepest self and opens a door into the
depths of his heart.
In
recent days we have heard Jesus say, “The hour has come for the Son of Man,”
that is, the hour for Jesus to die. He knows it; it is inevitable. The conflict
between him and the religious authorities is unresolvable. The authorities are
convinced that Jesus is a blasphemer and leading the people astray. Jesus,
speaking on behalf of his Father, calls them once again to embrace the reign of
God of which he is the representative. This conflict is the context in which
Jesus chooses the Passover meal to make present all that he is, all that he
loves. This Passover meal will become his way to show his love for his
disciples and for us.
There
are so many mysteries coalescing in today’s celebration that it is easy to get
overwhelmed. But there is one word that sums it up: “I have greatly desired to
eat this Passover with you before I suffer.” It is his desire to be with us,
not only now at this time, but into the future, that we are celebrating. “He
loved his own in the world, and he would love them to the end.” The Passover
meal was perfectly suited to convey this love and desire, but it must also have
been perplexing to the disciples.
Consider the scene: The disciples are
with Jesus recalling the greatest moment in Israel’s history—the liberation
from Egypt—and the threat of violence lay all around. Jesus goes even further:
he changes the prayers over the bread and the cup: “…This is my body…this is my
blood of the covenant…” The Passover meal commemorating Israel’s liberation now
becomes a memorial of Jesus’ body and blood shed for many, a new exodus. This
is the one constant his disciples can rely on - Jesus’ great desire to be with
them at this Passover. He loved them. He would give his life for them. They had
to trust that the meal itself would somehow open the door to understanding the rest
of what he and they were passing through. But that would only happen later.
“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!” The meal we are about to celebrate is our participation in the great desire of Jesus to be with us, now and into the future. Let us take and eat and trust. In this Eucharist, we will find the door to the riches and wisdom of Jesus’ heart.
Detail of stained glass from Chartres. Dom Vincent's homily for the Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper.
