“26And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. 27And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 28For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 29But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom. 30And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. 31Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. 32But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. 33Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. 34Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. 35Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.” (Matthew 26:26-35)
During the Last Supper, Jesus blesses the wine and asks his disciples to drink it, since it is his blood, and to eat the bread, since it is his body, and in doing so, atone for their sins. After singing songs of praise to God, Jesus and his Apostles return to the Mount of Olives. Jesus then informs them that, on that very night, one of them will hand him over to the Romans and the rest will fail him. The Apostles, and especially Peter, swear that they will never fail him, yet Jesus reaffirms that this is what will come to pass. Jesus already knows the final outcome of that night. The Apostles’ words and promises have no value; when Jesus is seized, they cave to their human instincts because they haven’t reached the necessary level of devotion to withstand temptation. Jesus, on the other hand, has mastered this trait and is therefore not led astray by fear or weakness. His divine spark withstands all forms of human suffering.
Dedication is the experience of an ongoing, burning desire for love and light.
