“We are thirteen at table,” whispered Thaddeus to his neighbour Bartholomew.  He was silent.  They did not eat, but sat there in silence.  The lamp flickered, and the reddish reflection hovered about the table.  Then Jesus began to speak.

“Eat and drink.  The hour approaches.”

John placed his hand tenderly on His, and asked:  “What do you mean, Lord, when you say, The hour approaches?”

“My friends,” said Jesus, “you will not understand how what will happen this night can come to pass.  They will come and condemn Me to death.  I shall not flee, for it must be so.  I have to bear testimony to the Father in heaven and of His tidings, and therefore I am ready to die.  If I were not willing to die for My words, they would be like sand in the desert.  If I were not willing to die, My friends would not be justified, and would doubt Me.  A good shepherd must lay down his life for his flock.”

“Master,” said Thomas, and his voice trembled, “not when you live; only when you die, could we doubt you.”

Then Jesus looked sadly round the circle, and said:  “One among you doubts Me, though I live.”

“What do you mean by that, Lord?” asked Judas.

Jesus said:  “The Son of Man goes His appointed way.  Yet it would be better for that man never to have been born.  One of My own people will betray Me this night.”

As if struck down by a heavy weight, they were silent for a moment.  Then they exclaimed:  “Who is it?  Who is it?”

“One of the twelve who sits at this table.”

“Master!” exclaimed Peter, “what causes that gloomy thought?  No one is unfaithful.”

Jesus said to him; “Yes, Simon Peter!  And another at this table will deny Me before morning cockcrow.”

They were silent, for they were all greatly afraid.  After a while He continued speaking.  “It must happen as the Father in His wisdom has determined.  But the time of work begins for you.  You will be My apostles, My ambassadors, who will travel over the world to tell all the nations what I have told you.  You shall be the salt of humanity, and season it with wisdom.  You shall be the yeast which causes it to ferment.  To others I have said, Do the good work secretly; to you I say, Let your light shine forth as an example.  Be wily as the serpent, and let not hypocrites deceive you; be like clever money-changers, who accept only good coins and refuse the false.  Be without guile, like doves, and go forth, innocent as the sheep who go among wolves.  If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.  Where you sow peace for others, there will be the sword for you.  It will also come to pass that your message of peace will awake discord; one brother will dispute with the others, children will be against their parents, because some will be for Me and others against Me.  But the time will come when they will be united, one flock under the care of one shepherd.  Then