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| da Vinci Public domain picture from Wikipedia |
Greetings Sisters and Brothers in Christ…
Contemplate these words from Luke, chapter 24 (which take
place after Jesus' resurrection)
30 When he
was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began
to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and
they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not
our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and
opened the Scriptures to us?”
So you
see, the commonly referred to “Last Supper” was not in fact the last supper Jesus had with disciples. I
imagine he had many suppers with them after his resurrection and before
ascension.
But I
suppose these suppers just didn’t have enough sensational impact for Leonardo da Vinci! Thus, we are stuck on the one he pictured.
Now why,
in this scene, Jesus stays only long enough to eat, be recognized and then
“poof” he’s gone I can’t say for sure. I think he is making the point that he
is capable of lovingly intervening in our tangible and spiritual lives simultaneously. And
so we should also attend to both, the spiritual and physical.
But he
appears to a greater group of disciples later. And, once again, he eats with
them!
40 When he had said this, he
showed them his hands and feet. 41 And while they still did not
believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled
fish, 43 and he
took it and ate it in their presence.
44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with
you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law
of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”
45 Then he opened their
minds so they could understand the Scriptures.
Much is often said about
fasting as a spiritual discipline. Humph!
I find it very
interesting that these scenes, in which Jesus is recognized and the Scriptures
understood, are in the context of supper!
I suggest this…the next
dinner, breakfast or lunch you have with family, friends, coworkers, ask not
only that the food be blessed but also that your eyes be more fully opened that
you may see Jesus more clearly and understand Scripture more fully.
Ask and you will receive!
