The Last Supper: Where Will We Sit?

Located within the busy city of Milan, Italy, sits the unassuming Church of Holy Mary of Grace (Chiesa di Santa Maria delle Grazie).  At first glance, it seems casually placed, another church in the city of churches, the most famous of which is the impressive Duomo Cathedral with its 135 spires that reach up toward heaven.  But this simple church holds a significant painting that covers an end wall in its dining room.  Imagine dining three times a day within sight of Leonardo da Vinci's magnificent 15th-Century mural, The Last Supper.  Well, that's exactly what the brethren did after it claimed its space of 180 inches by 350 inches (15 feet x 29 feet) inside their dining room.

We traveled to Milan last summer with the hopes of seeing this painting...our one goal.   Tickets had to be purchased up to three months in advance.  We took a chance.  We were blessed. One tour company had two empty seats.  Before viewing the painting, we were placed in a small group of 25. We were moved into a humidity-controlled chamber which was connected to the climate-controlled environment that hosted the mural.  Once inside the dining room, there, the Last Supper invited us to partake of its holy significance.  No cameras clicking, no voices, only quiet wonder for only 15 minutes.  Everyone wanted to remember everything.

The Last Supper portrays the different reactions of the disciples as Jesus, in the center, tells His disciples that one of them will betray Him.  Leonardo da Vinci places the disciples in groups of three and shows on their faces their confused hearts.

Believers know the story.  Judas' hand clutches the money bag. He betrays Jesus.  In only a few days after the story we see in this painting, Jesus is betrayed, arrested, judged, and crucified.

There is beauty inside this painting as Jesus gives thanks and offers bread, which is the most basic necessity of daily nourishment and which is symbolic of His body offered up for us on the Cross.  Jesus offers the cup, which signifies the spilled blood during His suffering but points to the lifeblood of New Life offered through His resurrection.

Here is the Easter message: a verse, like the Santa Maria delle Grazi, easy to miss, unassuming and so simple that we almost overlooked it.  Matthew 26:29, written in red, "I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom."  
 One day, believers will sit at the good table with Jesus, and we will partake with Him a meal that celebrates the holy event that took place only a few days after His Last Supper, His resurrection. 

By the way, during World War II, in August 1943, this church was struck by bombs and almost destroyed.  However, a protective structure had been built and placed against da Vinci's mural, protecting and preserving this one wall for us in August 2013. 

Jesus' death and resurrection is our protective structure.  His Easter message asks us all, "Will you sit with Me at the good table in My new kingdom?"

Blessings to you during this most Holy Week.

By the way, keep looking up!  And, thank you for following our blog!
J:m and L:nda