The day of unleavened bread arrived, the day when people had to kill the Passover lamb. Jesus dispatched Peter and John. ‘Off you go,’ he said, ‘and get the Passover ready for us to eat.’ ‘Where d’you want us to prepare it?’ they asked him.

‘Listen carefully,’ said Jesus. ‘As you go into the city a man will meet you carrying a jar of water. Follow him, and when he goes into a house, go after him. Then say to the householder there, “The teacher says, ‘Where is the living-room where I can eat the Passover with my disciples?’” And he will show you a large upstairs room, laid out and ready. Make the preparations there.’ So they went and found it as he had said to them, and they prepared the Passover.

When the time came, Jesus sat down at table, and the apostles with him. ‘I have been so much looking forward to eating this Passover with you before I have to suffer,’ he said to them. ‘For – let me tell you – I won’t eat it again until it’s fulfilled in the kingdom of God.’ Then he took a cup, and gave thanks, and said, ‘Take this and share it among yourselves. Let me tell you, from now on I won’t drink from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.’ Then he took some bread. He gave thanks, broke it and gave it to them.

‘This is my body,’ he said, ‘which is given for you. Do this in memory of me.’ So too, after supper, with the cup: ‘This cup’, he said, ‘is the new covenant, in my blood which is shed for you. ‘But look here! The hand of the one who will betray me is with me at this table. The son of man is indeed going, as it is marked out for him; but woe betide that man by whom he is betrayed!’ They began to ask each other which of them was going to do this.

The Bible for Everyone . SPCK. Kindle Edition.

Grant, Lord,
that we may hold to you without parting,
worship you without wearying,
serve you without failing;
faithfully seek you,
happily find you,
and forever possess you,
the only God,blessed now and for ever.
Amen

St Anselm