Lenten Reader | Day 36

April 15th, 2025

My Body & Blood

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”

Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

Matthew 26:26-29

This is my body, take and eat. This is my blood, drink from this cup. What an odd invitation Jesus offers to the disciples in the upper room that night. Most of us have probably taken communion so many times that we probably do not even think about those words. But think about hearing those words for the first time on that night. Eat of my body. Drink from the cup of my blood. What is he talking about?

But as Jesus is preparing to lay down his life, He is offering the disciples (and us) an invitation into a couple of things. First, He’s offering forgiveness. But not just once for a single act. It is for all of it, for all time. This is not like my kids, who begrudgingly forgive their sibling for eating candy that belonged to them. This is Jesus saying, “Come home. The Father and I have missed you. Come back to where you belong.” Jesus is offering an invitation to enter into that kind of forgiveness.

But it’s also an invitation into the act of sacrifice. Partake in this with me, Jesus says. As He was getting ready to lay down his life for the sake of others, to put the needs of others ahead of His wants, to make a way for people to come home, He offers all of us the invitation to do the same for others. Just a few chapters earlier, Matthew 16:24 says, “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me’.” The invitation Jesus offers is not just to accept what He offers us – it’s a call to join him in that kind of work. This is tough. Especially, in a world that so highly values self-satisfaction. Everywhere we turn we’re bombarded with messages that promote doing what makes us happy. But Jesus offers a better alternative. Partake in this work. It is what brought you home. Now join in to bring others home as well.

Andrew Day