Farewell Gift

Thus, as the washing of feet was a spectacular gesture, the great sacrament is inaugurated in a very simple manner: he uses the most common elements in Palestine such as food and drink: bread and wine; he offered them as his own flesh and blood, given up for the life of the world, the new treaty, between God and mankind.

Immediately, while offering the third ritual cup, the Master took the chalice filled with wine from the vine, and after the blessing and thanksgiving, passed it to each of the guests, while saying: “Drink from it, all of you. This is the chalice of the new covenant in my blood, poured out for many. Do this as often as you drink it in memory of me.”

Jesus was aware that he had just instituted, in such a simple manner, and put into action the most effective instrument of grace, the deepest and most fertile mystery of the new humankind: the Eucharist.

Extracted from the book “The Poor One of Nazareth” by Father Ignacio Larrañaga