Luke 22:19-23: a reflection

19He took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in memory of me.” 20Likewise, he took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. 21But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. 22The Son of Man indeed goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man through whom he is betrayed!” 23They began to question among themselves which of them it was who would do this thing.

At the last supper, Jesus gives his body and blood for his disciples, saying the bread is his body given for you and the cup his blood poured out for you, even as he knows that one at the very table will betray him. This is my body which is given for you, Jesus says, breaking the bread; and of the cup, this cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. Do this in memory of me. The words are deeply personal: given for you, poured out for you. And Jesus speaks them knowing that the hand of his betrayer is with him on the table; yet still he gives himself for his own, his self-giving love reaching even to the table where betrayal sat. This shows Christ's body and blood given for you, his self-giving love offered even amid betrayal. Christ gave his body and blood for you, personally, at cost to himself. His self-giving love reached even the table where betrayal sat. Receive the deeply personal love of Christ, given for you. Christ gave himself for his own, knowing what it would cost.

Notice how personal Jesus makes his self-giving, and in what circumstances he gives it. The bread is his body, given for you; the cup is his blood, poured out for you. He does not speak in the abstract, but personally: for you. He gives himself, his body and blood, for his own, at the cost of his life. And he does this knowing the circumstances: the hand of the one who will betray him is with him on the table; betrayal sits at the very meal where he gives himself. Yet still he breaks the bread and gives the cup, his self-giving love reaching even to the table where betrayal sat. This deepens what the supper shows us of Christ's love. His giving of himself is personal, for you, his body and blood given and poured out for his own. And it is a love that gave itself even knowing betrayal was near, even with the betrayer at the table; a love not withheld because of the faithlessness that surrounded him, but poured out still. This is the love that gives itself for us: personal, costly, and not turned aside by our unworthiness or faithlessness. When we receive the bread and cup, we receive the sign of a love given for us, personally, at great cost, and not withheld even from a table where betrayal sat. We do well to receive with gratitude and faith the deeply personal, self-giving love of Christ, given for us. Receive the deeply personal love of Christ, his body and blood given for you. Christ's self-giving love reached even the table where betrayal sat. His love is not withheld because of our unworthiness or faithlessness. Take to heart that Christ gave himself for you, personally and at great cost.

That is worth taking to heart, for Christ gave his body and blood for you, personally and at cost, his self-giving love reaching even the table where betrayal sat, as he gave the bread and cup at the last supper. We can receive Christ's sacrifice as a distant, general thing; but he said the bread was his body given for you, the cup his blood poured out for you, even as betrayal sat at the table. His love is personal. Receive with gratitude the deeply personal, self-giving love of Christ, given for you, at great cost, and not withheld even amid faithlessness. Receive with gratitude and faith the deeply personal love of Christ, who gave his body and blood for you, poured out at great cost and not withheld even from the table where betrayal sat, as at the last supper Jesus gave his body and blood for his disciples, saying the bread was his body given for you and the cup his blood poured out for you, even as he knew that one at the very table would betray him; for the words are deeply personal, given for you and poured out for you, and Jesus spoke them knowing the hand of his betrayer was with him on the table, yet still gave himself for his own, his self-giving love reaching even to the table where betrayal sat, which deepens what the supper shows us of Christ's love, since his giving of himself is personal, for you, his body and blood given for his own at the cost of his life, and it is a love that gave itself even knowing betrayal was near, not withheld because of the faithlessness that surrounded him but poured out still, a love personal and costly and not turned aside by our unworthiness or faithlessness, so that when we receive the bread and cup we receive the sign of a love given for us personally and not withheld even from a table where betrayal sat, and we do well to receive with gratitude and faith the deeply personal, self-giving love of Christ.

Lord Jesus, at the last supper, you give your body and blood for your disciples, saying the bread is your body given for you and the cup your blood poured out for you, even as you know that one at the very table will betray you. This is my body which is given for you, you say, breaking the bread; and of the cup, this cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. Do this in memory of me. The words are deeply personal: given for you, poured out for you. And you speak them knowing that the hand of your betrayer is with you on the table; yet still you give yourself for your own, your self-giving love reaching even to the table where betrayal sat. Show me how personal you make your self-giving, and in what circumstances you give it. The bread is your body, given for you; the cup is your blood, poured out for you. You do not speak in the abstract, but personally: for you. You give yourself, your body and blood, for your own, at the cost of your life. And you do this knowing the circumstances: the hand of the one who will betray you is with you on the table. Yet still you break the bread and give the cup, your self-giving love reaching even to the table where betrayal sat. This deepens what the supper shows me of your love. Your giving of yourself is personal, for me, your body and blood given and poured out for your own. And it is a love that gave itself even knowing betrayal was near; a love not withheld because of the faithlessness that surrounded you, but poured out still. This is the love that gives itself for me: personal, costly, and not turned aside by my unworthiness or faithlessness. Take that to my heart. Help me receive with gratitude and faith your deeply personal, self-giving love, Lord, given for me at great cost and not withheld even from a table where betrayal sat, taking to heart that you gave yourself for me.