10- THE MYSTICAL SUPPER
		
		
		The Icon of the Mystical Supper stands as a direct 
		expression of the scriptural narrative upon which it is 
		founded. According to the Gospel for the Divine Liturgy 
		of Holy and Great Thursday:
		
		
		When it grew dark, He reclined at table with the Twelve. 
		In the course of the meal He said, "I assure you, one of 
		you is about to betray Me." Distressed at this, they began
		to say to Him one after another, "Surely it is not " Lord?"
		He replied: "The man who has dipped his hand into the dish 
		with Me is the one who will hand Me over." (Mt. 26: 20-23)
		
		
		During the meal, Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it, 
		and gave it to His Disciples. "Take this and eat it, "He 
		said, "this is My body." Then He took a cup, gave thanks, 
		and gave it to them. "All of you drink from it," He said, 
		"for this is My blood, the blood of the covenant, to be 
		poured out in behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins."
		(Mt. 26: 26-28)
		
		
		The Icon of the Mystical Supper portrays Christ and the 
		Apostles seated around a table. The respective gazes and 
		positions of the figures are important. Christ Himself 
		meets the eyes of the Disciples that are directed toward 
		Him. Other Disciples are bewildered about the meaning of 
		the words of the Savior. "The Disciples looked at one 
		another, puzzled as to whom He could mean."(Jn. 13: 22) 
		Because of their very postures, the attitudes of two of 
		the Apostles in question must be Qualified:
		
		
		ST. JOHN, the Beloved, to whom the crucified Christ will 
		later entrust the care of His mother, is depicted resting 
		his head on Christ's breast, in keeping with the reference
		in his own Gospel -"One of them whom Jesus loved reclined 
		close to Him as they ate…" (Jn. 13: 23). The entire 
		commandment of love which is presented in the Gospel of 
		John is thereby embodied:
		
		
		"This is My commandment: 'Love one another as I have 
		loved you. There is no greater love than this, to lay 
		down one's life for one's friends." (Jn. 15: 12-13)
		
		
		JUDAS is the betrayer. He is shown stretching out his 
		hands toward the bread he has been given in order to dip 
		it into the dish, and thus he dramatizes the prophecy: 
		"Even My friend who had My trust and partook of My bread, 
		has raised his heel against me." (Psalm 41: 10) The words 
		of Christ in the Gospel are seen in Judas.
		
		
		With regard to the second theme of the above-mentioned 
		narrative: (that of the institution of the Holy Eucharist),
		the Icon depicts the sanctified bread - the Body of 
		Christ - as already broken and distributed to the 
		Apostles. The cup of the sanctified wine -the Blood of 
		Christ - is shown resting on the table, awaiting passage 
		to them, so that in the words of the Anaphora of Saint 
		Basil the Great, all may be united "who become partakers 
		of the one Bread and Cup in the communion of the Holy 
		Spirit."
		
		
		The Cherubic Hymn for the Divine Liturgy of Holy and 
		Great Thursday places us into the event that the icon 
		makes present.
		
		
		HYMN - Let me this day, O Son of God, be a partaker of 
		Your Mystical Supper, for I will not reveal Your Mystery 
		to Your enemies, nor will I betray You with a kiss as did 
		Judas, but like the repentant thief I openly profess You: 
		Remember me, O Lord, in Your kingdom.
	

		When I know me, I stop doing what's not good for me
		
		
		The only way to eliminate stress and pain is to stop doing 
		the things that create it. It is easy to see what others 
		do to us while we forget the drama we create for ourselves.
		How? Take your pick: The need to be right. Lack of life 
		purpose. How we think others see us. Trying to fix the 
		world. Dishonesty with self and others. Accepting someone 
		else's truth. Seeking material wealth over spiritual 
		values. Doing it alone. My way is the right way. Fear of 
		the future. Negative thoughts patterns. Trying to prove 
		yourself to others. Anger over the past. Telling other 
		people what to do. It all boils down to "not knowing who 
		we are."
		
		
		If thy right eye offends thee, pluck it out…
		

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