Fr. Adolf Washington –
Most of us have hosted send-off or farewell dinners or have at least been special invitees for such dinners. But the Jesus’ Last supper with his disciples was different. In the modern mindset, the disciples would be considered unworthy of dining with the Lord Jesus. We may find ourselves somewhere close in character of these invitees; frail and not yet strong in Faith.
It was Peter who later denied Jesus in the courtyard of the high priest (Matt 26:69-75). He was not faithful. He lacked the courage to standup in public to own Jesus as his master. Peter was impetuous and would say and do things without thinking.
Andrew, Peter’s brother before the multiplication of the loaves and fish told Jesus, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?” (Mark 10:35) Andrew still did not understand much about what Divine power could do.
James and John were following Jesus for the wrong reason, looking for their own glory. They asked “Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.” (Luke 9). Bartholomew one of the Twelve was a timid man of few words who struggled to overcome shyness.
Matthew the tax-collector If he was like any of the other tax-collectors he would have collected a lot more in taxes from people than he returned to Rome.
Thomas later would believe in the resurrection of Jesus only if he could put his fingers into the wounds the nails made and put his hand into Jesus’ side. He lacked faith. (John 20:25)
Simon a revolutionary (Luke 6:15) wanted to achieve Palestinian independence from Roman occupation using military means. Simon did not know that violence achieves nothing but only encourages more violence.
Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus for money.
At the Last Supper Jesus’ did a slavish job of washing their feet, a powerful transformation and took place in their lives later (apart from Judas who hung himself in guilt).
Fit yourself into the place of any of those at the Last Supper in the context of your own religious Faith.
If we are unwilling to kneel in humility like Jesus did before his disciples, we will never be able to stand before God’s throne of Glory.