Maundy Thursday

Reading 1

Matthew 26:17-19

“On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover meal?”

 He replied, “Go into the city, to a certain man, and say, ‘The teacher says, “My time is near. I’m going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.”’” The disciples did just as Jesus instructed them. They prepared the Passover.”

Setting the table

Reading 2

Matthew 26:21-25

“That evening he took his place at the table with the twelve disciples. As they were eating he said, “I assure you that one of you will betray me.”

 Deeply saddened, each one said to him, “I’m not the one, am I, Lord?”

 He replied, “The one who will betray me is the one who dips his hand with me into this bowl. The Human One goes to his death just as it is written about him. But how terrible it is for that person who betrays the Human One! It would have been better for him if he had never been born.”

 Now Judas, who would betray him, replied, “It’s not me, is it, Rabbi?”

Jesus answered, “You said it.””

 Reading 3

Matthew 26:26

“While Jesus was eating bread with his disciples, he took a loaf of bread, and after giving thanks to God for

it, he broke it, gave it to them, and said:

“Take, this is my body. Do this in remembrance of me.””

 Reading 4

Matthew 26:17-30

I tell you, I won’t drink wine again until that day when I drink it in a new way with you in my Father’s kingdom.”  Then, after singing songs of praise, they went to the Mount of Olives.

Holy Conversation

As we continue to eat dinner, discuss the story of the Last Supper. Discuss it however you like, perhaps using these questions:

· What would being one of the disciples at that table have been like? What questions would you have asked?

· How do you think Jesus felt during the Last Supper? What do you think was on his mind?

· Why do you think Jesus gave us Communion in this way? Why did he use the words he used?