April 1, 2010

Glynn Cardy

Maudy Thursday

A reflection adapted from Dom Crossan [i]

One of the distinguishing practices of the Jesus movement was that no matter whom you were – a woman, a taxcollector, a Pharisee, or a child – you sat and ate at the same table with everyone else. There was no barrier to those who were considered impure, inferior and unworthy. This egalitarian, inclusive behaviour spoke louder than any pronouncements of belief. The table was for all.

In the post-resurrection stories there are two forms of Eucharistic meal, that of bread and fish and that of bread and wine. The link between these meals and the inclusive table fellowship Jesus practiced are four key verbs: took, blessed [or gave thanks], broke, and gave. That foursome appears, for example, with the bread both at the Last Supper in Luke 22:19 and at the Emmaus meal in Luke 24:30. What is their importance, and why have they become ritualized expressions for those Eucharists?

If we turn to the library of the Dead Sea Scrolls, written by the Qumran Essenes we get an interesting comparison. Hierarchical rank rather than egalitarian table protocol was symbolized in their meals. 

One of the manuscripts, for example, that dates to about 100 C.E. says, “and when they shall gather for the common table, to eat and drink… let no man extend his hand over… the bread and wine before the priest. Thereafter the Messiah of Israel shall extend his hand, and [then] all the congregation...” [ii]

In this scroll the emphasis is on hierarchy, precedence, and the order of dignity. A very different emphasis appears at Jesus’ meal table. Took, blessed, broke, and gave have profound symbolic connotations maybe dating back to the beginning of Jesus’ ministry.

They indicate, first of all, a process of equal sharing, whereby whatever food is there is distributed alike to all. This is, as you may remember, the issue that St Paul admonished the Corinthians about. [iii] The rich wanted to keep the food they’d brought for themselves, while the poor at the other end of the table went hungry.

But these verbs also indicate something even more important. The first two verbs took and blessed, and especially the second, are the actions of the master or leader. The last two broke and gave, and especially the second, are the actions of the servant. Jesus, as master and host performs the role of the servant, and all share the same food as equals. Being both master and servant affirms the innate equality and mutuality between human beings.

There is however one further step to be taken. Most of Jesus’ first followers would have known about but seldom experienced being served at table by slaves. The experience of the male followers would have been that women both prepared and served the family meal. Jesus took on himself the role not only of servant but female. Not only servile but female hosting is symbolized by the juxtaposition of those four verbs. Far from reclining and being served, Jesus himself serves, like any housewife, the same meal to all, including himself.

Jesus’ table practice was counter-culturally open and inclusive. All were welcome into this community of equals. All were to be treated and fed equally. Yet these four verbs took, bless, broke, and gave also point to the radicalness of Jesus’ leadership. He opened the door to women leaders as well as men, valuing the spiritual wisdom and service of both. It is a pity that the Church is still trying to catch up.

[i] Crossan, J. D. Jesus: A Revolutionary Biography, p.180-181.

[ii] The Rule of the Congregation or Messianic Rule

[iii] I Corinthians 11:17-22