Then Jesus took a loaf of 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. ~Luke 22:19
There’s an “Upper Room” which pilgrims visit on the Via Dolorosa. It was built by the Crusaders in the 11th century — a millennia too late to be “authentic”. Our guide assures us that even if the dates are off, this spot may resemble the place where Jesus gave his disciples this meal, this sacrament.
We pilgrims look around the empty, high-ceilinged room. With a hazy idea of Leonardo da Vinci’s famous mural in mind, I attempt to picture the scene — Jesus at table with his twelve disciples, including Judas, the one who betrayed him.
This meal is the event that Christians celebrate in the sacrament of Holy Communion, which they commemorate in a special way on Maundy Thursday. (The word “maundy” comes from the Latin mandatum, meaning mandate or commandment.)
Another group of pilgrims enters the room and sings a hymn to guitar accompaniment; the sound fills the room. The acoustics are lovely and the voices devout.
How might you enter the Upper Room this Holy Thursday, even in your home church?
Prayer: O Lord, I want to receive your sacrament.
Click here for Day #39 (Good Friday).
This material is adapted from my book, Chasing the Divine in the Holy Land.
The photo is of Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” (in Milan).
Here’s a post on another piece of great artwork on the subject: Jesus & Judas at the Table.
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