And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the chalice after supper, saying, “This chalice which is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood”.

 (Luke 22:19-20) 
 

Luke 22:14 - 23:56

Jesus’ disciples knew God's covenants with Noah, Abraham, Moses and David. God commits to care for humans and even chooses a race to which to communicate love and law in a special way. As Jews, the disciples were inheritors of these four covenants. They were faithful to their human obligations of the covenants, just as God was always faithful to God’s side of the commitments. In fact, on the evening of the Last Supper, they were celebrating the covenant that God sealed with Moses, after liberating the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt in the Passover, the crossing of the Red Sea, and giving the Ten Commandments. 

So it must have come as an enormous surprise to them to hear Jesus talk about a new covenant, this time in his blood, not the blood of domesticated livestock. He took the theme of the evening, and applied it to himself in a radical way: God is offering an original relationship with us, setting right all the faults of the past, wiping away all our sins, because of the blood of God’s only Son, who is about to be sacrificed on our behalf. The thing is, Jesus entered willingly into the deal.

At the end of that commemorative Passover meal, he announced the new covenant by sharing bread and wine to represent his body and blood. Perhaps he knew the full implications of the new covenant—that God would raise him from the dead, thus destroying the power of sin and death forever.

We are bound by common morality, which is beautifully summarised in the Ten Commandments and the two great commandments of love that Jesus gave us. We also live as well as we can, following Jesus’ teachings. We renew our commitment to this covenant every time we celebrate Jesus giving his body and blood so that we might have life. Celebrating Eucharist is not just a commemorative thanksgiving ritual. It is a commitment to love God and our neighbours, no matter how near or far they may be. 

Do I partake in the Eucharist lightly? When I eat the bread and drink the cup, am I coming into communion with all the people to whom God makes the saving commitment? How sharp are my wonder and surprise that God wants to do this for me?

Reflections by Peter Knox SJ

Lord,
You knew what you were doing when you faced death and offered your life for the life of the world. May I never 

take this wonderful gift for granted.
Amen. 

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