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 EUCHARISTIC SHAPE – A NEW ECONOMY (MARK 14:17-25)

Jesus eats the last supper with His disciples and institutes the New Covenant.

REFLECTION 

The theme for reflection is Eucharistic shape – a new economy. The word Eucharist is from the Greek word eucharistia which means thanksgiving. The Passover meal was a thanksgiving meal and Jesus gave it a new meaning. It became the symbol of the New Covenant that replaced the Old Covenant. Jesus became the new Passover lamb and at the same time, the High Priest who gave thanks over His own body and blood and willingly sacrificed it for our forgiveness, liberation from the bondage of sin, eternal death and justified us to become sons and daughters of God through faith. “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” (Mark 14:22-24)

In the same vein, the Eucharistic meal is an inclusive Thanksgiving meal in remembrance of the sacrifice Jesus did on our behalf. The Eucharistic meal or the Last Supper is a meal where all and sundry are welcome to partake in the Holy Communion of God’s children. It is a new economy where all God’s people are equal before the table of Christ and share in the same body and blood of Christ. Christians must preach and work towards a new economy in the shape of the Eucharistic meal where all are welcomed regardless of who they are and where they come from.

It is interesting to note that even Judas with all his evil intention was also entertained at the table of the Lord. “While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me.” (Mark 14:18).  In the new economy, love leads. We shall no longer say blood is thicker than water, we must experience the love and salvation of Christ and conclude that the Baptismal water of Christ is thicker than biological blood. In other words, the blood of Christ that binds us together in the Sacrament of Baptism and regeneration makes us equal in the new economy of love. The early church was an example of the new economy that Jesus established for “Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:43-47) We are equal through the power of the Eucharist and in Christ, there is no ethnic, racial, gender, and class discrimination. Jesus established a covenant that must lead to a new economy of hope, love, mutual participation and celebration among all believers of diverse identities and backgrounds. 

Christians must not allow denominationalism, doctrinal inclinations, ethnocentrism and national barriers to destroy the beautiful economy of Love Jesus established through the Eucharistic celebration. We must learn to strengthen our ecumenical relationships, share with one another and care for all and sundry to the best of our ability just as Christ also invites us to the table or meal of grace every now and then. We must reject any policy that impoverishes the poor but enriches the rich. The church must be visible in the world and must be seen to engage policymakers towards a just and equitable distribution of state resources and wealth. Both the rich and the poor, affluent and less privileged, powerful and destitute share in the Holy Communion or Eucharistic meal of Christ and as such must carry this relationship of oneness and equality before God at the table of Christ into the world of economics, political interactions and national development. The foundation of the new economy laid down by Jesus through the New Covenant is consistently re-enacted every time we partake in the sharing of the symbolic body and blood of Christ through the Eucharistic service. Shalom 

PRAYER 

LORD JESUS, ENABLE US TO UNDERSTAND THE TRUE MEANING OF THE EUCHARIST AS A MEAL OF THANKSGIVING AND LOVE SO THAT IT MAY REFLECT IN OUR DAILY DEALINGS WITH ONE ANOTHER IN THE NEW ECONOMY OF LOVE, UNITY AND EQUALITY. AMEN 

Jean-Paul Agidi (Rev.)