Who is at my table?

It is Holy Thursday, the first day of the Triduum. Today we remember Jesus’s Last Supper, the Agony in the Garden, and his betrayal and arrest. Let us imagine ourselves there in the middle of the fear and joy. We do not know for sure how many people were in attendance; certainly the Twelve are mentioned in all the Gospels but some accounts just say “disciples,” so this could include many more. Even if we limit ourselves to the Twelve, for a group of only Jewish men they are extremely diverse.

Matthew was a tax collector, effectively a collaborator with the Roman occupation. Tax collectors were known to demand more money than required by the state so not only were they doing Roman bidding, they were profiting off of it. It is not a terrible stretch to imagine some modern parallels. He was likely educated in languages and math, as both would be needed to effectively do accounting and mediate between the local people and the foreign occupation. 

Simon known as “the Canaanite” or “the Zealot,” was part of a group (Zealots) trying to defy the Roman occupation. They often used violence to throw off their oppressors; history tells us they were not successful. Judas Iscariot may have been a member of an even more extreme sect within the Zealots, named for their use of daggers in assassinations. 

Peter, Andrew, James, John, and maybe Philip were fishermen. We (and others of their time) would probably consider them uneducated, but since they spent their lives fishing I am sure they know more about fish species, their habits, preparing fish for sale, and the fishing trade than most of us can claim. It is a wildly different skill set than tax collecting or rebellion-starting.

Thomas may have been a carpenter, but there is no mention in the Gospels. Similarly, we have no knowledge of Bartholomew, Thaddeus/Judas, or the other James’s backgrounds. We know that Jesus picked them all up in different places and he interacted with all different people, so we can use our imaginations.

I wonder how the dinner-time conversations went every night on the road. Do any of the Twelve remind you of your family members? Any holiday dinner conversations come to mind?

As we step into the kairos (God’s time) of the Triduum, imagine the conversation around the Last Supper’s table. Immerse yourself in the tension, sacredness, and community. Ask yourself these questions:

Who is invited to my family table? Only people with my same politics or beliefs?  

Who is invited to my community table? Only people with the correct social status? Immigration status? Skin color? Gender identity? 

Would I break bread with Judas, Matthew, and Peter?

Today's Readings

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Carol is a lay ecclesial minister with nearly 15 years of experience and an MA in Pastoral Studies. She currently resides in the Kansas City area (Kansas side) where she is a Homemaker and stay-at-home parent. You can listen to her meditations on InsightTimer.