God knows exactly what we need
January 7th, 2024 – Communion Meditation
There are many kinds of journeys, some quite local and lasting only a little while, like going to the grocery store, others taking us farther afield in both space and time, like visiting loved ones in another location. We might journey purposefully or get caught up in an unplanned journey; we may travel by foot or on something faster; we may prepare a detailed itinerary or leave room for serendipitous discoveries; we may set out on our own or with others; we may be motivated by relationship, necessity, curiosity, charity, or wellness.
Interestingly, in 13th century Middle English, the words “travel” and “travail” were the same. Life has often been compared to a journey, and life is rarely free of travail, which is pain, anguish, or suffering resulting from mental or physical hardship. We don’t know what our journeys will look like in 2024, let alone this week or even today. We can’t possibly know all that we’ll need, no matter how carefully we plan, because every journey includes unknowns and things that are out of our control.
An image that I have found to be very helpful is that of a pilgrim with a simple backpack. As we travel through this life in Christ, seeking to love both God and people, we can rest in the assurance that God is always with us and for us. We do not seek easy paths, entertainments, or escapes. We seek to follow Christ.
One of the beautiful mysteries of Communion is that our participation by eating the bread and drinking the cup goes far beyond symbols, remembering, and tradition, as meaningful as these each are. In Communion we encounter Christ, we receive the life of Christ, we are transformed. And because we so easily forget who God is and who we are, because we get knocked about so often, because in our brokenness we tend to be more hole-ridden and less holy, we need to encounter, receive, and be transformed by Christ again and again. So, we come to the Communion Table again. God, who knows and loves us perfectly and completely, also knows exactly what we need. At the table, we open our backpacks to receive gifts God has placed in there that we didn’t even know we needed.
1 John 4:13-16 (NRSV) – “By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.”
Let’s pray. Lord God, in the mystery of your perfect and complete love for and knowledge of each one of us, we come to you today with open hands, open hearts, and open backpacks, to receive whatever you want to give us. Thank you, Father. Thank you, Jesus, Thank you, Holy Spirit. Amen.
On the night that Jesus was betrayed, he took the bread and said, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” (Eat together) Again, Jesus took the cup and said, “This is my blood of the new covenant poured out for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” (Drink together)
