(Photography: Becker, Allison. Abbey Cloisters, Iona. Image description: The stone arches of the abbey cloisters – with the fading light of the day – are seen. Two carvings on two of the pillars are predominantly shown: A person drinking from a chalice, and hands breaking bread.)
Come Thursday
What a week
Rest was needed
Hidden away
For sure
They had feared a riot
Then he had started on
Over-turning tables
In the temple
The
Temple!
They couldn’t go anywhere
He seemed to take the next day
more easily
They were glad for that
He seemed lost in thought and far away
Most of the day before
What he was thinking of doing next
They couldn’t say
The Passover meal
Finally …this evening
Two of their number got sent on
another strange errand
Following someone carrying water jars
And again
Somehow …that equaled provision for their meal that night
It had been bread
And dried fish
Most of the week
Some fruit and cheese mixed in
Offered generously from some
But this evening
Roast Lamb
Bread in sop
Wine
Reclining at table
Their tired
Unwashed Selves
Were looking forward to the reprieve
In they filed
Entering the room prepared for them
Shuffling feet
Now
Acutely aware or the accumulation of dust
And dirt
Upon them all
Prepared
He put on his outer garment
To be their host
Yet he didn’t call in a servant
Yet kneeled
himself for the task…
Has he lost his mind?
Peter cried out in horror
They all thought it
Peter said it
(As usual)
He took off is outer garment
And used it as a towel to dry their feet
Taking all the muck, dried dirt, sweat, blood…
onto
His own clothes
And then… he
Put it
Back on
And wore it… !!!
Throughout the meal…
They felt bad for Judas and John right near him
John seemed to be all the more intrigued and ..moved
Judas
… seemed
Not …ok
At all
Agitated
With him
In that state
Through the meal
They recounted
The story of God’s faithfulness
And power
For their people
Delivering them
Saving them
Bringing them slavery to freedom
From Egypt to the promised land
He took the bread from the table breaking it …
and the cup after supper
Offering it
Saying (adding?) words about his Own self
Judas seemed overcome
Overdone
Standing up in a hurry
Rushing out the door
Jesus wasn’t surprised
But the rest of all of them were
They didn’t get it
Yet Jesus did
What could they say?
They ended the meal
With his words in their ears
And hearts
The taste of wine and bread
On their lips
Here is my body …
Here is my blood …
