Last Supper and Gethsemane (reflection)
Last Supper
a) Reflection on God’s Word:
On Thursday evening Jesus celebrates the Last Supper with His apostles. The Passover is connected with the sacrificing of the lamb and with the Passover meal. This festival commemorates the passing over of Israel from the slavery of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Jesus came to deliver mankind from the slavery of sin and the devil.
At the beginning, Jesus washed the apostles’ feet. Thus He gave them the example of humility and love. Thereafter, He warns them against the spirit of betrayal, behind which is the devil.
Then Jesus speaks about love: “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s brethren.”
He also speaks about the Holy Spirit: “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth.”
Finally, Jesus instituted the sacrament of the Eucharist: “The Lord Jesus on the night when He was betrayed took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said: ‘This is My body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.’ In the same way also He took the cup, saying: ‘This is the new and everlasting covenant… as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.’” (1Cor 11:23)
Jesus had already said some time before: “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.” The Eucharist makes present the death of Christ. Our unity with Christ’s death is accomplished in the words: “Father, not My will, but Yours, be done.” If we follow Jesus and these words of His in truth, the Holy Spirit works in us.
Gethsemane
Then Jesus went out with His disciples across the Kidron Valley. There was a garden called Gethsemane. Jesus said: “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”
Jesus prayed: “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me. Nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done.” (Lk 22:42) Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And He said to Peter: “So, could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray!” (Lk 22:40-41) Being in an agony, Jesus prayed even more earnestly. His sweat was falling down to the ground in great drops of blood.
In the first prayer, Jesus realized the terrible suffering and cruel death which awaited Him.
During the second prayer, He began to perceive the abomination of sin. He, the spotless Lamb, takes upon Himself all the sins of the world. He suffers extreme mental anguish.
In His third, culminating prayer struggle, Jesus experiences the most intense mental agony. He realizes that the fruit of sin is eternal damnation in hell. He sees that many will reject His redemptive sacrifice and His suffering for them will be in vain!
By His obedience to the Father, Jesus broke the root of sin. He is our example of fulfilling the will of God, even at the price of the greatest suffering!
b) Recitation of God’s Word (5 min):
We all repeat: “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me. Nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done.”
c) Prayer according to God’s Word (5 min):
We all say together: “Father!”, and one of us adds each time aloud on behalf of both himself and others: “Not my will, but Yours, be done.”
d) Prayer of the heart (5 min):
Prayer of the heart – we call: “Aaaa…baa”. Now I realize: “Not my will, but Yours, be done.”
Download: New edition of the prayer booklet for the celebration of Sunday – format doc , format pdf
Download: Death and Resurrection of Christ /a contemplative prayer/