“When it grew dark Jesus reclined at table with the twelve.”

Mt. 26: 20

The night before he died, the Light of the World reclined at table his closest friends for their last meal together. St. John includes the fact it is dark, reminding us that is when evil comes out to work its deeds of darkness. This is the night that evil comes out though Judas. Judas will leave the table, go out into the darkness of the night and betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. There is no greater darkness than to destroy the Light of the World.

The table of eating and sharing food and life is such a central theme for Jesus. Perhaps a very fitting metaphor for our lives is one of gathering around the table. We come together daily to share food and life with each other around the table. It is a time of connection with what is truly important in our lives. If we did not have the table and food and sharing of life, when would we connect on the deepest level of existence- the life God has given us?

We gather around table for food to expose our lives to one another. As we share our lives together, it helps us to better know, love. care and pray for each other. Why not make it a goal of our gatherings to expose the Light of the World? Point out how you see God in each others life. And expose how the evil one might be trying to snuff out the Light of the World in your own life or the life of your loved ones. Is not the goal of our lives Light? To live in the light of his love forever? As a people of the table, we can work towards that goal of living in light each time we gather for a meal by talking about the light and darkness and where our choices lead.

There is one table from whom we all feed. It is the table of the Lord. Jesus commands us to come to this table and eat his body and drink his blood. His light thunders through The Eucharist to expose and conquer the evil in our lives. Yes, we come to mass to have our lives exposed to each other and Jesus, the Light of the World. At the beginning of mass we repent for choosing darkness over the light. Then, from the one table of the Word of God in the Scriptures and the Eucharist, we are fed with the one bread which brings all to the fullness of light.

May we lead our family, friends and all we meet away from the destruction of evil into the Light of the World. The best way we can do that is to be exposed. Let yourself be exposed by letting others who want you to live in the Light ask you what you are doing with all your time. Be humble and defenseless when God is using those closest to you to point out any darkness you have chosen in your life. Make a continual, searing examination of conscience to find any darkness at work. Thoroughly investigate your life and make a good confession once a month. If you do not think you have sinned, that is your greatest sin. There are many ways to be exposed and the point is to be exposed!

Let us pray; “Lord God, you are the Light of the World. Each time I choose you, I come into a greater experience of your light and love. Evil tempts me away from you. When I choose that darkness of evil, your light and life in me dies out. I know that I was made for your light. You simply recline at table with me and feed me with your everlasting light. Your light exposes and conquers the darkness I have chosen in my life. Jesus, show me the evil I have taken on and cast it out. Like the psalmist- There is one thing I ask, one thing I seek- to dwell in the fullness of your light all the days of my life. Amen.”

God’s will!
+Fr. John