(As I think of this night so long ago, the night we now call Holy/Maundy Thursday, I realize that Jesus not only washed the feet of the one who would betray him, but he prepared a place at the table for him as well. It is the same today. He still prepares the table for all… even for me. “Do this in remembrance of me”, he said. So, as gathered Christians, we remember Jesus’ great, unimaginable love and presence and the way of the cross. We actively participate in being the hands and feet of Christ as we wait for his return. And we are reminded that God’s grace and mercy is for everyone for we all fall short of being who we are called to be.)
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
It was when you asked me to help,
O God, that I truly understood ...
or at least understood
in the way that you asked me
to understand.
You handed a chalice to me
from the table you prepared
and whispered, "For all."
I gulped. "Oh God... really?
For all?"
You whispered again,
"Look into their eyes,
offer to them what I have prepared,
Some might be your enemies,
but none of them are mine."
And so I stood,
at the end of an aisle,
with chalice in hand
and wept at the thoughts
of my enemies welcomed
to the table
that was prepared for me
in such a generous way.
The table was not mine;
the guest list was not mine;
the chalice never ran dry ...
nor did the grace and mercy.
Once again, I heard,
"Do this in remembrance ...
and remember,
these are not my enemies."
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies,
and then you say, "All sit ... together."
And still the chalice never runs dry
for those around the table -
not even for me.
