In my faith tradition, Maundy Thursday usually involved a remembrance of the first communion service. Many of the churches I have been associated with have scheduled a light supper and following that supper, at small tables of six to eight attendees, bread is broken and the cup is shared, much as this passage from 1 Corinthians related. The commemoration is somewhat solemn often because we Christians forget that this offering of bread and cup was offered during a family celebration, a Passover feast, recounting the escape of the Israelites from Egypt. It was a warm and welcoming celebration of a time that had hardships, but led to great joy.

The recounting of this first communion meal is a continuation of the meal and feasts Jesus had shared all throughout the land — sometimes with the rich…