Cross of the Eucharist
Peter Koenig, 20th century
My dear friends,
On this Maundy Thursday, when we commemorate Jesus' establishment of the Eucharist (the "Lord's Supper"), let us reflect on the Apostle Paul's teaching in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26:
what I also passed on to you:
The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed,
took bread, and when he had given thanks,
he broke it and said,
"This is my body, which is broken for you;
do this in remembrance of me."
In the same way, after supper he took the cup,
saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood;
do this, whenever you drink it,
in remembrance of me."
For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup,
you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
The phrase, "which is broken for you," underscores the self-giving nature of Jesus' love. It indicates that his suffering and death were not meaningless or accidental but were endured willingly for the benefit of others. This is a powerful example of selfless love, compassion, and sacrifice.
The "new covenant in my blood" that Jesus refers to is quite profound. In the Jewish tradition, the Mosaic covenant was established when Moses sprinkled blood from sacrificed animals on the people after reading God's law to them (Exodus 24:8). This marked the solemn agreement between God and His people, signifying their obedience to the Law.
However, the 'new covenant' Jesus speaks of, bound not by the blood of animals, but by his own, signifies a shift from external law to an internal transformation. It points towards the law written in hearts, an internal commitment to compassion, love, and understanding. This echoes deeply with the Mahayana Buddhist understanding of inner transformation, shifting from selfish desires to altruistic bodhicitta.
Moreover, the phrase, "do this in remembrance of me," is an important aspect of this teaching. This is akin to the Tibetan Buddhist practice of deity yoga, visualizing their union with a deity to cultivate the qualities associated with that deity. In the Eucharist, Christians are invited to become one with Jesus, to align themselves with his qualities of compassion, selfless love, and wisdom.
By practicing the Eucharist, Christians seek to cultivate those qualities, just as Buddhists cultivate them through deity yoga. We are not worshipping bread and wine, or images of deities, but using them to remind ourselves of those highest human qualities, which they represent in perfection.
On this Maundy Thursday, and every day, let us remember the profound teachings that unite us, and seek to embody compassion, selfless love, and wisdom throughout our lives, for the benefit of all sentient beings.