The Fifth Cup

It is Monday before Maundy Thursday. I am preparing a homily on the Lord's Supper and reflecting on how, in a single meal, Jesus changed a ritual that had been in existence for almost 1500 years. I think of the time he said, "I have not come to abolish the Law, I have come to fulfill it. I think Jesus fulfilled the Seder meal in the presence of his disciples by giving a NEW meaning to a special portion of unleavened bread and by his drinking the 5th cup, the 'Cup of Elijah'. The Jews of today still use this cup during their yearly observance of Passover.

There are 4 cups of wine that are drunk during the Seder meal. They are based on 4 promises of God to the Israelites while they were in bondage in Egypt. Look at Exodus 6: 6-7. Just prior to this, God has said, "I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have remembered my covenant."
The next verse: "Therefore, say to the Israelites, 'I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians'."

Jesus followed the ancient liturgy except for 2 exceptions. At the beginning of the meal there are 3 loaves of unleavened bread(some suggest for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob). When the meal begins the celebrant blesses the 'Holy One and His Shekinah', then speaks about the bread: 'This is the bread of affliction eaten in Egypt. Whoever is hungry, come and eat; whoever is in need, come to this meal'. Then the leader takes the 2nd matzah, breaks it into 2 pieces, one small one larger. The larger portion of unleavened bread(for Isaac, Abe's son??) is hidden away til the end of the meal; the smaller piece is placed back between the whole matzahs. The liturgy of remembrance continues.

The first cup blesses the meal - it is the cup of holiness/sanctification('I will bring you out').
The second cup is the cup of deliverance('I will free you').
The third cup is the cup of redemption('I will redeem you').
The fourth cup is the cup of completion('I will take you as my own people').
The four cups are consumed during the meal.
The hidden piece of unleavened bread called the afikoman, is 'found' at the end and shared among all members at the meal. This is to recall the sacrifice of the Paschal Lamb for the Jews.
It is DESSERT.
Then the people sing pslams of praise.
The fifth cup remains full and untouched, because it repesents to the Jews the return of Elijah, who will announce the Messianic Age at the end of the age.

It makes good sense to some scholars, as well as myself, that Jesus would have waited til the end of the meal before shaking things up in such an amazing and frightening way. I believe he would have led the participants through the complete ritual, remembering all the important details of the Exodus. At the end, however, I believe he fulfilled the meal of remembrance - he became the Paschal Lamb - and announced Messiah in their midst.

In taking the afikoman from its hiding place(prefiguring his own hidden burial?), Jesus would have blessed God, broken the bread and given it to all his friends. When he said, 'Take it; this is my body', his disciples' heads must have jerked up in astonishment. This was NOT according to tradition! And then - in a move that has such great importance for the entire world - Jesus reached for the cup of Elijah - blessed God for it - and said to his stunned friends, 'This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many. As often as you do this - Remember me'.

The modern Jewish community still keeps the cup of Elijah filled and waiting for his return. They also sometimes use a sixth cup to represent the Jews who are still being persecuted and who cannot celebrate Passover.

Jesus came to fulfill the Law. He fulfilled it in his role as both host and sacrifice in that Last Supper. And he reminded the witnesses to 'Do it in remembrance of ME.'

I believe Jesus changed the liturgy of the 'hidden piece' and drank from that 5th cup at the end of the meal; and made sure all of his disciples ate it all and drained every last drop before the meal ended.

Wouldn't your head have been spinning about then? Mine would have, even without all the wine!

Some folks call it 'Holy Thursday' or 'Maundy Thursday' from the Latin word 'mandatum', which means 'command'. Jesus tells his disciples to 'Love one another as I have loved you'.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT!

marco island beach wedding and Feasts of the Lord

Hi from a little part of Paradise. The weather has finally warmed up and Marco is at its most luscious. I was privileged to officiate at a wedding on the beach last week and used a ceremony that is helpful as a substitution for the unity candle ceremony. It is called the Sand Blessing. The couple brings with them 3 containers - vases, bottles, dishes, decanters..... after vows and exchange of rings, the man and woman scoop up sand from the beach into their separate containers, then pour them together into one. The grains of sand merge together, representing the uniting of two lives. It was beautiful and meaningful. The couple then has a permanent mimento to keep as a reminder of their wedding day. The Sand ceremony may be used away from a beach - the couple may bring 2 colors of sand and pour together, creating a specially colorful work of art.
We are in the season of Lent - a season of reflection and contemplation of our human weakness and God's neverending faithfulness. I am reminded of Moses and God on Mt. Sinai - God had patience enough to give Moses the Ten Commandments TWICE - what a patient God we have! Also, God gave Moses 7 Feasts - each to be celebrated forever. I highly recommend a reading of Leviticus 23 for a rundown. Their have been 4 feasts already fulfilled by Jesus Christ - Passover(Crucifixion), Unleavened Bread(Jesus dead and entombed), Firstfruits(Resurrection!!!!) and the Feast of Weeks(Pentecost-beginning of Christ's Church) . The last 3 feasts have yet to be fulfilled: Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and Feast of Booths. Quantum physics is beginning to believe that instead of space and time being linear, it may be resembling a CIRCLE - 'world without end, Amen'. "I AM the Alpha and the Omega."
Revelation is meant for all God's children. May He allow us to increase in knowledge of Him and His plan and purpose for a peaceful Creation. Watch for the next blog - more about the Seven Feasts of the Lord and human gestation. Science is confirming God's work!!!!!
God bless til next time.

Lunatic

I am privileged to be taking part in a Beth Moore study on the 'Psalms of Ascent'. It is a 6 week Bible study being offered at my church here on Marco Island. Over fifty women have signed up and we are enjoying the study. The 'Psalms of Ascent' are known as Psalm 120-134; these psalms (or songs) were believed to have been sung by 'pilgrims' - heading toward Jerusalem.
In Psalm 121, the psalmist sings about God as protector, "The Lord protects you; the Lord is a shelter right by your side. The sun will not strike you by day, or the moon by night."
I know about the hot, arid conditions of the area - too much sun can be harmful or deadly - even today! It was important for the people to have adequate shade while on their pilgrimage, and the psalmist wants the travellers to know that God will provide them shelter from the sun during the day. But why do we need to be protected 'from the moon by night?'
Aha! This is what I call 'Linda Trivia', but I find it fascinating.
The ancients not only feared over-exposure to the sun; they also feared being out in the moonlight for extended amounts of time. The word 'lunatic' derives from 'lunar' - 'of the moon'. The term 'moonstruck' was often used for describing someone with a mental disorder. It was thought that too much moonlight could be hazardous to a person's health! Today the word 'lunatic' is still used in common English language, with the same connotation as its ancient meaning. Fascinating!
May the Lord protect you this day and in all the days of your journey.

World Peace

I am reading a great book on the history of religious/spiritual groups that have had positive influences on peacemaking around the world. Book is titled ; 'Religion, the Missing Dimension of Statecraft' edited by D. Johnston and C. Sampson. What a wake-up call to Boomers and later generations that spiritual persons or groups with no agenda but reconciliation have played significant roles in effecting peace/reconciliation/accords/treaties, etc.
Christians work alongside Muslims - Jews - Buddhists - with one goal: non-violent solutions to peaceful existence.

Also just finished Deepak Chopra's 'The Third Jesus' and thought it was pretty good. Anyone else interested in commenting?

Maiden Voyage

Hello from beautiful Marco Island! This is my first attempt at blogging. I am interested in sharing my experiences with my friends and family at ZUMC during the months I am away, and perhaps on a regular basis if it proves to be useful. 'Dare to Pray' group began to form today at Wesley. 16 persons attended; 2 Chronicles 7:14 was unpacked; homework was to pray for 3 main foci for the church in 2009; choose 3 personal prayer foci. Lots of good discussion.

"The past is history, the future is a mystery, today is a GIFT, that's why we call it the PRESENT."

Until next time! God bless.

tlc4u