All praise to You, today, Father for Your compassion and aid. Your hand was surely involved in getting me in for a desperately needed root canal this past week. It wasn’t fun but it is done!
Matthew 26:17-30 (<<click to read the passage)
So what do you call it? When we have our monthly observance of the Lord’s Supper, I put it in the bulletin as The Sacrament of Holy Communion. In my study Bible* notes it had this to say.
Each name we use for this sacrament brings out a different dimension to it. It is the Lord’s Supper because it commemorates the Passover meal Jesus ate with his disciples; it is the Eucharist (thanksgiving) because we thank God for Christ’s work for us; it is Communion because through it we commune with God and with other believers. As we eat the bread and drink the wine, we should be quietly reflective as we recall Jesus’ death and promises to come again, grateful for God’s wonderful gift to us, and joyful as we meet with Christ and the body of believers.
It is vital to believers everywhere to partake and remember. Some churches observe it quarterly or maybe once a month. Many partake of it each Sunday. It is so important! It links us to God. It connects us to each other. But there is a mystery in the midst of it all. How Christ accomplished what He did as symbolized in the act of observing Communion.
This is one area where, as a pastor, I struggle a bit. Over the years, I have observed this special time together many ways but for me, at least, I never feel like I do it justice. And honestly, I can’t really put my finger on it to be able to say why specifically. …and maybe that is the way it should be…
I am humbled every single time I stand in front of my congregations. How am I worthy to administer such a holy thing? After all, I am who I am, and that is far from perfect…far from holy…far from worthy. But once again the mystery is in the midst of it all.
In and of myself, I am not perfect or holy or worthy but, ah, in Christ – by he choosing to associate with me by my coming to him for forgiveness – I can be perfect and holy and, shockingly enough, worthy!
Lord Jesus, You are my all in all. You are the reason that I am. You are the reason I am who I am. You are the reason I am able to be who You want me to be. Work through me. Use me. I am an instrument in Your hands. Amen and amen!
*Life Application Study Bible New Living Translation
Nov 11th, 2018, Sun, 7:08 pm
