Last supper. Pita bread Chalice Use Bible for skit
Matthew 26:26-28:Jesus takes bread, blesses it, breaks it, and gives it to the disciples, saying, "Take, eat; this is my body."He then takes a cup, gives thanks, and says, "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".
The last supper happens in every mass. Actually body and blood. Show mass coloring book
If time permits Explain stuff in prayer table. Explain culture.
We pray for a compassionate heart. Help us to be more understanding and empathetic towards others. Let us see the world through the eyes of those who are suffering and be moved to action. May our compassion lead us to help and support those in need.
Thank you for your compassion towards us. Help us to reflect that same compassion in our interactions with others. May we learn to listen deeply and to respond with kindness and care to those who are hurting. Guide us to be patient and non-judgmental, recognizing the struggles and challenges that others face. Help us to extend compassion to ourselves, understanding that we too are deserving of care and kindness.
We pray for a world where compassion is the norm, where people look out for one another and support each other in times of need. Thank you for the opportunities to practice compassion. Help us to seize those moments and to make a positive difference in the lives of others.
When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. —Matthew 14:14
This week of meditations begins with a homily from Richard Rohr on Matthew 14:13–21. He describes how Jesus created a community of compassion:
The gospel passage is quite good and delightful because it tells us very directly what God is about. Jesus is all about meeting immediate needs, right here and right now. There’s no mention of heaven at all. It seems we’ve missed the point of what the Christian religion should be about, but we see how the disciples themselves missed the point: “Tell them to go to the village and take care of themselves” (Matthew 14:15). But Jesus does not leave people on their own!
Look at the setting. Jesus is tired. The gospel begins with him withdrawing to a deserted place to be by himself. Sure enough, the crowds follow after him, but he doesn’t get angry or send them away. He recognizes the situation and moves to deal with it. Then the passage goes further and states, “His heart was moved with pity” (Matthew 14:14). If Jesus is our image of God, then we know God has feelings for human pain, human need, and even basic human hunger. The gospel records that he cured the sick, so we know God is also about healing, what today we call healthcare. Sometimes, we don’t even believe everyone deserves that either! Jesus says, “There is no need for them to go away. We will feed them” (Matthew 14:16).
The point in all the healing stories of the gospels is not simply that Jesus can work miracles. It is not for us to be astounded that Jesus can turn five loaves and two fish into enough for five thousand people, not counting women and children. That is pretty amazing, and I wish we could do it ourselves, but what Jesus does quite simply is feed people’s immediate needs. He doesn’t talk to them about spiritual things, heavenly things, or churchy things. He doesn’t give a sermon about going to church. He does not tell us what things we are supposed to be upset about today. He knows that we can’t talk about spiritual things until we take away people’s immediate physical hunger. When so much of the world is living at a mere survival level, how can we possibly talk about spiritual things?
The important thing that God seems to want to be doing in history is to create a community of compassion where people care about one another. It is not only the feeding that matters to us, it is also the caring for other people’s hunger and needs. Jesus never once talked about attending church services, but he talked constantly about healing the sick and feeding the hungry. That is what it seems to mean to be a follower of Jesus.
Luke 6:36“Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.”
Dear Heavenly Father, I repent for not being more compassionate at times. I come to you today asking for your help, increasing my compassion and mercy. I know that these qualities are important for living a life filled with love and understanding for others.
Please help me see the world through your eyes, understand that everyone is struggling, and show them kindness and compassion no matter what they have done or where they come from. Lord, I repent for the times I have not looked beyond myself; I pray you will remove the spirit of selfishness in my life. I refuse to let Satan influence my walk with Jesus.
Help me to be more forgiving and to let go of anger and resentment towards others. Help me to show mercy to those who have wronged me and to extend grace to those who need it most. Lord, you are rich in mercy, to the point of dying for our sins. I want to grow more in my walk to be like you. Ephesians 2:4“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us.”
I pray that you will fill my heart with your love and compassion so that I may be a source of hope and comfort to those around me. Let the light of Jesus flow through my life. Through the Power of the Holy Spirit, I will surrender my fleshy man and be the face of Jesus to all those I encounter.
This is not something I can do alone, and I humbly ask for your help and guidance as I strive to become more compassionate and merciful. I surrender my all to you, allowing you to work in my heart.
In your holy name, I pray, Amen.
Colossians 3:12“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.”
