Last Meal

By tradition in some areas, imprisoned persons on death row receive a last meal of their request prior to their executions. What would you chose for a meal, if it was your last one? I guess I pick one with red meat and lots of fried stuff. I'm at the age where I have to watch my cholesterol level constantly, and I don't imagine that would matter, with only hours to live anyway. Who would you want to be present with you at your last meal? If you could pick a special occasion for your last meal, what would it be? Christmas? Thanksgiving? Superbowl Sunday?

This particular day (the Thursday before Easter Sunday) is a day when some Jesus-followers remember what was Jesus' last meal, as far as we know. Supposedly Jesus knew it was his last meal. Having already eaten a formal meal, Jesus chose broken up bread and a little wine for his last meal. He gathered an interesting crowd to share the meal with him; among them a revolutionary terrorist, several unemployed commercial fishermen, an unpopular tax man, and someone who swore allegiance to Jesus, but who would deny ever having met him within hours. In addition Jesus invited the man who would set up Jesus' arrest, and Jesus knew it was already a done deal. Jesus shared his last meal with the man who would set the stage for Jesus' execution. Jesus chose a holiday meal setting for his last dinner. This particular meal celebrated a liberation of Jesus' ethnic group centuries before. It was a liberation that would come at great cost. Jesus was hours away from paying a great price himself.

The peculiar thing about Jesus' last meal is that it's not done yet. People keep gathering for it, and they've done it continually for twenty centuries. Some have the meal every day, some have it once a week, some once a month, and some a couple of times a year - but they all keep having it. Some use wine and little wafers, the consistency of cake ice cream cones. Some us grape juice and bread. Imprisoned people have been known to use colored water and cracker crumbs. But they still continue this meal. Some believe the day will come when the meal finally comes to a culmination. On that day, all who have had the humility, the audacity, the insanity, the courage, or whatever to stake their existence on Jesus will finish the meal at a great victory banquet. Jesus himself will be the host.

That's what they say, anyway. Interesting concept for a last meal. I'll see you around the next bend in the river.