Finding Deeper Meaning
Do some things just slip right past you without you taking notice?
When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. - Matthew 26:30
In today's Gospel reading, Jesus and his disciples complete their last meal together and head to the Mount of Olives. But wait. They do something else before they go. They sing a hymn.
I did a little searching and came up with this interpretation of the event.
It is widely recognized that the Last Supper was a Passover meal and that the Jewish Passover liturgy included special hymns drawn from the book of Psalms. These hymns were known as the Hallel Psalms (meaning "Praise" psalms), and consisted of Psalms 113-118. - TheSacredPage.com
The Hallel Psalms include some important symbolism to the offering of a sacrificial lamb in thanksgiving for being saved.
What shall I render to the LORD for all his bounty to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD... O LORD, I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your handmaid. You have loosed my bonds. I will offer you the sacrifice of thanksgiving.
When we think of the Last Supper, we recognize it as a solemn occasion, a sad end to a lovely relationship, but these psalms are psalms of praise and thanksgiving. While not totally joyful, they indicate a deeper understanding of the meaning of the sacrifice Jesus was about to make, on the part of all the disciples.
Perhaps they weren't as oblivious as we tend to think. At least they would have been included in the chanting and they might have made the connection Jesus was making. He was offering himself as the body and the blood, the bread and the cup.
Of course, we don't always get it either, and we sing right along with others in the congregation, having heard the words and celebrated in the feast.
Maybe the message for us today is to be alert. With so much tragedy and violence in the world, and so many people looking to make easy targets of innocent people, like the Bastille Day massacre, we need something to hold us together, something special that brings us closer to God.
Perhaps we can find the strength to pray and, yes, even sing the words of praise to God, thanking him for the time we have with each other. For who knows how fleeting this life may be?
The snares of death encompassed me, the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish. Then I called on the name of the LORD; "O LORD, I beg you, save my life!"
More to come...