The Greatest Gift Ever Given

It is small.

It is round. It is white.

Look at it.

Look behind it — far, far behind...

Do you see what I see — Jesus reclining at a long table with the twelve apostles?

His eyes, a fire in their depths, move from face to face — sun-tanned faces, rough and leathery.

Eleven pairs of eyes gaze back at him.

The twelfth is shifting — anywhere but on Jesus’ face.

Jesus places a morsel of bread into a dish, holds it out to this twelfth person and says something to him.

Hesitantly he reaches out a hand and takes it.

He lifts it to his lips and eats it.

He coughs, chokes and swallows hard.

He rears to his feet, knocking over a goblet of water.

He pays no heed.

With eyes rather wild, he whirls and strides out of the room;

hurrying — almost running — running away from something...

Jesus looks after him, sighs and a shadow crosses His face.

Now He reaches across the table and picks up a loaf of bread.

Very deliberately He breaks it into several pieces.

He holds them up so they can all see.

Then very quietly He says, “…TAKE AND EAT, THIS IS MY BODY.”[1]

He pronounces each word quite distinctly.

His eyes search each man’s face.

One by one, He hands each a morsel of the loaf.

Awkwardly their big callused fingers close about their piece of bread.

They hold it and look uncertain at it, then at Him.

“EAT IT,” He urges them;

“THIS BREAD IS MY BODY.”

They eat it.

They look wide-eyed at each other like little children, wondering and disbelieving what is happening.

Eleven shabby, bearded men; as rough a group as had ever sat down to a supper table together — ELEVEN CHILDREN OF GOD WHO HAD JUST MADE THEIR FIRST COMMUNION.

They turn awed glances at Him; to this Man they call MASTER. Their big hands go out to Him, loving Him! Loving Him who loves them so very much!

“This is my body which is for you” He says, “DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME.” [2]

 

 

The Gift of God Almighty

O Praise our God with fervor!

From simple bread and wine,

Each new-born day the wholeness

Of an awesome Gift is mine.

 

The Gift of God Almighty,

Through Jesus Christ, His Son;

And through the Holy Spirit,

All united, Three and One.