When the time came for Jesus and the apostles to eat, he said to them, “I have very much wanted to eat this Passover meal with you before I suffer. I tell you I will not eat another Passover meal until it is finally eaten in God’s kingdom.” Jesus took a cup of wine in his hands and gave thanks to God. Then he told the apostles, “Take this wine and share it with each other. I tell you that I will not drink any more wine until God’s kingdom comes.” Jesus took some bread in his hands and gave thanks for it. He broke the bread and handed it to his apostles. Then he said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Eat this as a way of remembering me!” After the meal he took another cup of wine in his hands. Then he said, “This is my blood. It is poured out for you, and with it God makes his new agreement. The one who will betray me is here at the table with me! The Son of Man will die in the way that has been decided for him, but it will be terrible for the one who betrays him!” Then the apostles started arguing about who would ever do such a thing.” Luke 22:14-23
Station 5
After Judas spoke to the high priests, but before Jesus was arrested, Jesus shared a meal with his disciples that we call the Last Supper. During Holy Week, we remember this meal on Maundy Thursday. Jesus had told his followers that he would soon be arrested and killed, and so he chose to spend his last night having dinner with his friends. But this was a special meal—a meal in which Jesus would let the disciples know that after he was gone, they could have bread and wine together to remember him and to experience the grace of his presence, a practice we now call Holy Communion.
Find a place to rest along the horse track. Imagine the last really good meal you had. Remember the sense of fullness, the sense of joy, the sense of having enough. Every time we celebrate Holy Communion is an opportunity to remember that Christ meets us at the table and sends us away full of grace and hope and joy.
After Maundy Thursday, we have Good Friday. The walk from station five to six is one of the longest walks of this prayer journey. Similarly, it was a long walk for Jesus from dinner with his friends to his death on the cross. As you travel to the next station, consider Jesus carrying his cross. Consider the disciples watching Jesus move to his death. Consider that Jesus will soon die.