Thursday, April 21
Jeremiah 20:7-11
Psalms 102, 142, 143
1 Corinthians 10:14-17, 11:27-32
John 17
In preparing to write this meditation, I started with a reading of the Psalms. They’re pretty grim, but no big surprise there. It is Maundy Thursday, and Jesus’ crucifixion is near. In all three Psalms, the author cries out to God, pleading for relief from persecution by enemies. Clearly, the psalmist has faith that God will come to his aid eventually, but God seems so very far away. Is He listening? Does He even know what’s happening to His faithful servant?
Similarly, things aren’t going too well for the prophet Jeremiah. He’s just been subjected to public humiliation, all for speaking out in God’s name. Jeremiah thought he was doing God’s will, spreading His message, but his enemies keep tormenting him. He’s confused and frustrated. He could always choose to no longer speak out, but that wouldn’t work. He knows he could not endure keeping silent. It would ultimately be more painful.
Just when I was starting to wish I had a different set of (less depressing) readings, I go to Chapter 17 of John’s Gospel. In it, we know Jesus sees the big picture. He accomplished what He was sent to do, but now “the hour has come.” He prays. However, instead of focusing on His enemies, He prays for the community of believers, those who have accepted God’s word and who have come to know the truth. Further, He prays for those who will become believers in the future and comments on their oneness with God.
It is this oneness we celebrate in the Eucharist. Over 2000 years after that Last Supper, Christians still commemorate Jesus’ sacrifice using bread and wine. The bread is broken for us. In 1 Corinthians, Paul writes, “Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf” (NIV). For me, that is an uplifting message of unity and hope.
Evelyn Snow