While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, “Take and eat; this is my body.” 27 Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, from now on I shall not drink this fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it with you new in the kingdom of my Father.” 30 Then, after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 31 Then Jesus said to them, “This night all of you will have your faith in me shaken, for it is written: ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be dispersed’; 32 but after I have been raised up, I shall go before you to Galilee.” 33 Peter said to him in reply, “Though all may have their faith in you shaken, mine will never be.” 34 Jesus said to him, “Amen, I say to you, this very night before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” 35 Peter said to him, “Even though I should have to die with you, I will not deny you.” And all the disciples spoke likewise.
Matthew’s version of the Last Supper is the foundational narrative for the celebration of the Eucharist in the Christian tradition from the time of the nascent Church. This is attested to in the writings of the early Church Fathers and the earliest liturgical documents. Jesus takes bread, blesses it, breaks it, and gives it to his disciples, instructing them to eat it, declaring it to be his body. It signifies Jesus' sacrificial offering of himself for the salvation of humanity. Breaking the bread is reminiscent of the Passover meal where the head of the household would bless and break the bread. The connection to the Passover links the Eucharist to the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt through the blood of the lamb and the crossing of the Red Sea.
Jesus then takes a cup, gives thanks, and gives it to his disciples, instructing them to drink from it. This is similar to the language of the Jewish Passover liturgy, particularly the blessing over the third cup of wine. Jesus declares the cup to be his blood which will be shed on behalf of many (Is. 53:12) for the forgiveness (atonement) of sins (Lv. 17:11). This cup symbolizes the blood of the new covenant, poured out as a sacrificial offering at his crucifixion for the forgiveness of sins. This is the new covenant Jesus is instituting.
Jesus made a new covenant with his people as God did when he led the Israelites out of Egypt (Ex. 24:8), This time it was not the blood of an animal but the Blood of Christ, the innocent, spotless lamb, that was being offered. This was a turning point in salvation history, a reinterpretation of the Passover meal. Jesus then spoke of a future reunion with his disciples in the kingdom of his Father, where they would share in a new drinking of the fruit of the vine. This adds an eschatological dimension to the Eucharist, which is the ultimate fulfillment of God's kingdom at the end of time, the Messianic banquet. The hymns they sang would probably have been the Hallel, Psalms. 115-118, sung at the conclusion of the Passover meal.
Jesus forewarns his disciples that they will experience a crisis of faith that very night, quoting from Zechariah 13:7. However, he assures them that he will be resurrected (raised up) and will reunite with them in Galilee. Galilee was where Jesus initially called his disciples and where the risen Jesus will manifest himself to his disciples and send them off to continue his ministry. Peter claims that his faith will never be shaken but Jesus predicts that Peter will deny him three times before the cock crows. Jesus uses the phrase "Amen, I say to you" to underscore the certainty of his prediction about Peter. Peter passionately declares his loyalty to Jesus, stating that he is willing to die with him, and the other disciples make similar comments.
Lord Jesus, we celebrate your death and resurrection as you commanded with profound gratitude to acknowledge the gift of eternal life you offer to each one of us. May we always remember your sacrifice, your body broken, your blood shed, for the forgiveness of our sins. Grant us the strength to remain faithful, even in moments of trial and doubt, and lead us to the joy of your kingdom, where we will drink the cup anew with you at the Messianic Banquet. Amen!
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References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
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