Daily Lectionary: Jeremiah 26:1-19; Matthew 26:20-35

Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is my body." And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out FOR MANY for the forgiveness of sins." (Matthew 26:26-28)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. All the Old Testament comes to a point right here. All the Lord's promises about being with His people, living with them, eating and drinking with them, saving them, have overflowed right here. The Passover Lamb, Jesus, fulfills the Passover. He eats and drinks, and then He does something new. All the Old Testament was a shadow cast by the Body of Christ (Colossians 2:17).

We live in a world of shadows, of lies. What's real? Fake news. Scams. Politics. The internet is always true, right? What about you? Are you true, honest, pure? How much of your life is shadow? How many times does your smile conceal something else? How many times are you glad that you can hide behind a screen, a username, an avatar? Is your goodness and kindness a whitewash covering up or making up for your sins?

It is a shadow. False. Empty. Sin. Your mask, your smile, your avatar will be good only as long as you can keep it going. The shadows of the world, of your sin, and of death press in. But it won't overwhelm you, won't wipe you out. You won't be surrounded and hidden and lost in darkness.

Jesus tells you what's true about you, and FOR YOU. What is true about you is that you are righteous before God in Him. What's true FOR YOU is that Jesus died and rose for you. He did this to ransom you to the Father. He rose from the dead to bring life and immortality to life.

And our reading today is what that is all about--giving it to you. What's true about you and for you is that Jesus' Body and Blood are yours in His Supper. That's what is true. When nothing else is true or it all seems fake and empty and a shadow, "This is My Body; This is My Blood" FOR YOU.

You're bodied and blooded to Jesus. He is yours and you are His. And you're not alone, either. You and I are in this together because we both receive Jesus' Body and Blood. I'm here for you, and you're here for me. We tell each other what's true about us and for us. Jesus is! He's our Savior. He forgives us. He gives us His light. He makes His promises to us and keeps them. It all comes together at the Supper of His Body and Blood. It's the point of it all! Always more of Jesus' forgiveness and life and light for more people--"poured out for many." Even for me and FOR YOU. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Duane Bamsch