The Mother of God and the Last Supper (I)

	The Mother of God and the Last Supper (I) The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”  In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” (1 Corinthians 11: 23-25) The Holy Scriptures do not mention it, but there is no doubt that the Mother of God was present. Certainly, she came to Jerusalem as always for the Easter feast and celebrated the Passover meal with the whole group of Jesus' followers. She who kept all of Jesus' words in her heart—how she must have kept His departing words within her! “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you” (Luke 22:15). Was she reminded then of the Wedding at Cana (1)? Now His hour had come. Now he was able to give that which before He could only foretell symbolically. The washing of the feet: He was among them as one who serves (John 13). This is how she had seen Jesus during His whole life. This is how she herself had lived and would continue to live. She understood the mystical meaning of the washing of the feet (Cf. John 13:2-11). He who approaches the holy table must be completely pure. But only His grace can give that purity. Saint Edith Stein The Secret of the Cross