Making Preparations

Today's Reading: Matthew 26:17-20

Last December I directed my niece's wedding. For several months I watched her mother make phone calls, purchase supplies, visit with vendors, and make all manner of decisions for the big day. We talked endlessly about the plans, the wedding party, who would sit where, what my dad (the minister) would say, and all the details that Ashlee and Reid wanted to be perfect. When the appointed weekend arrived, we loaded all our cars with food, supplies, clothes, and decorations and proceeded to the venue in the mountains of NC. On the big day, we spent the morning decorating and rehearsing...and keeping the bride and groom from seeing one another! It was a long day but with the help of wonderful friends and family, everything went off without a hitch. This is one of my favorite pictures from that day...my brother and his little girl. It is a memory that will last our family a lifetime.

This reading in Matthew is also about making preparations. Jesus sends His disciples into Jerusalem to make preparations for the Passover feast that He will celebrate with them. I wonder what they thought as they hurried to the designated place to make the preparations. I wonder how much they had to do to make everything perfect. Although they didn't know this would be their last meal together, I bet that something whispered to them to make sure that everything was just so. And I bet they remembered that night for the rest of their lives.

This Passover celebration would institute the communion service that we practice today. Through it we commemorate Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. I wonder how much we think about communion before its designated time on Sunday morning. Are we anxious to be prepared and to have the meal go just so? Will we remember the time together at the table as sacred? Are we anticipating how God will speak to us at that moment?

Are the preparations made?

- Holly Barrett