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<div style="font-family:arial,helvetica;font-size:10pt;color:black"><blockquote style="border-left: 2px solid blue; padding-left: 3px;"><font color="#33cc00" face="Microsoft Sans Serif"><strong><b><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Free Resource from
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<div align="center"><big><font size="3"><big><strong>Preaching
Matthew 26:14–27:66</strong></big></font></big></div>
<div align="center"><big><font size="2"><big>by </big></font><font size="2"><big>Anna Carter Florence</big></font></big></div>
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<div align="justify"><font size="2"><em>While they were
eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after
blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples,
and said, "Take, eat: this is my body."</em></font></div>
<div align="justify"><big><font size="2"><big>It was the
best gift anyone has ever given. It was also a
brilliant idea, considering that human beings are
programmed to be (1) forgetful, and (2) hungry.</big></font></big></div>
<div align="justify"><big><font size="2"><big>Jesus knew us.
He knew how our bodies and our minds work. He knew
that our bodies, for example, need food, every
day. Food gives us energy and life. Lack of it
stunts growth and cripples us. Forget to eat, and
the body goes into shutdown mode, until we die. So
the signal that we are running low on food is
hunger; it is the body’s way of telling us that we
need to eat again. Once we do, our bodies are
sated and the hunger disappears—until the next
time the food energy runs low. That is the cycle,
and it is not optional: when we need food, our
bodies are programmed to be hungry.</big></font></big></div>
<div align="justify"><big><font size="2"><big>There are
other kinds of nourishment human beings need in
order to live, too. The nourishment of love, for
instance. Or kindness. Or joy. Or peace. Jesus
knew this, too. He knew that you can starve a
person with lack of gentleness just as surely as
you can starve her with lack of food—which is
probably why we refer to many of these necessities
as "fruits of the Spirit," since our souls, our
spirits, literally die without them. The problem
is that some of these hunger pangs are trickier to
recognize; we may not always know how dangerously
malnourished we are. But, when you start to feel
like nothing you do is right; when you begin to
think of yourself as broken and not worth fixing;
when you find yourself asking, "Who would ever
want to be friends with me?"…you aren’t crazy.
You’re hungry. You aren’t weak. You’re hungry. And
there is nothing for it except to stop and eat,
because the hunger is playing tricks on you. </big></font></big></div>
<div align="justify"><big><font size="2"><big>What kind of
food? This is my body, broken for you. This is my
blood, poured out for you. Stop, tear off a piece
of broken bread, and remember what you have
forgotten, in your hunger: I gave my life so that
you could have life. There is nothing on heaven or
earth that can separate you from the love of God.
</big></font></big></div>
<div align="justify"><big><font size="2"><big>Jesus knew
that we are programmed to run out of food,
spiritual or otherwise. And here’s the brilliance
of his idea: okay, maybe we won’t admit we’re
starving for love, but our bodies won’t let us be
hungry forever! Sooner or later, we’re going to
have to eat. Pick up a piece of that bread, pass
it to the next person . . . and the sacrament
takes hold. Remember? I’m right here, as near to
you as bread. Remember? You’re not a total loser;
you’re just hungry. And the bread is not just a
spiritual snack, a little pick-me-up to get us
through the afternoon. It’s the kind of bread that
can save your life. </big></font></big></div>
<div align="justify"><big><font size="2"><big>Matthew’s
story of the Last Supper shows us exactly why we
need this bread so much. In one seat, we have
Judas, the disciple who is going to betray Jesus.
In another seat we have Peter, the disciple who is
going to deny him. Think about it: two men who
loved Jesus with all their hearts, who followed
him, who were chosen by him. Two men who believed
Jesus could make the world a better place. One of
them would even go on to build up the church in
incredible ways. But at this supper, they show us
exactly why we need this bread so much, and so
often, because they get up from the table, full
and replete, and they go out and make two of the
worst mistakes they’ve ever made. </big></font></big></div>
<div align="justify"><big><font size="2"><big>Judas and
Peter, with every possible advantage, and they
totally blow it. Jesus even predicts it for them.
One of you is going to betray me, he says. One of
you is going to deny me. And don’t waste your
breath boasting about how brave you are, how
invincible, how strong. This is the truth you have
to hear: you are my disciples, and you will deny
me. Not just once, either. Three times. Before the
rooster crows, which he does, every day. Every
day! </big></font></big></div>
<div align="justify"><big><font size="2"><big>Do you see?!
There is a pattern here, Jesus says, that you are
going to have to get your head around, because if
you don’t, you will die of grief. Every day, the
sun comes up, and the cock will crow. You will be
hungry; you will sit down to eat. Break the bread,
and remember: this is my body, broken for you.
Fill your bellies, fill your hearts, wipe your
mouths, and get up from the table. You may
actually make it for three minutes, but probably
not. You’ll forget that my grace is sufficient for
you. You’ll forget that there is no condemnation
in Christ Jesus. You’ll forget that you are made
in God’s image, every single one you. </big></font></big></div>
<div align="justify"><big><font size="2"><big>Don’t even
bother to speculate; you just will! You are human;
this is how God made you. When night comes, if
you’re a glutton for punishment, you can actually
count how many times you’ve denied me by denying
the grace that is yours, but I don’t recommend it;
better to lie down and sleep until morning comes,
and the rooster crows, which he always does, and
always will, right on cue. That’s how roosters are
made. That’s how you are made. </big></font></big></div>
<div align="justify"><big><font size="2"><big>That is how
life is, for disciples of Jesus. Eat, drink, and
remember. Deny, repent, turn around. Keep coming
to the table. Keep passing the cup to one another.</big></font></big></div>
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