Guard the fire within
October 15th, 2023 – Communion Meditation
As often happens at Casa Sculley, Paul burned some yard and construction debris this week. The material had been outside for days or weeks and was quite dry, so all it took was one match and the accumulation quickly burst into flames. It didn’t take long for the blaze to burn all of the visible material. Later that evening, we were very surprised when we looked out of our back windows and noticed that, in spite of a decent amount of rain over several hours, we could still see bright red pulsating embers along with wisps of smoke. Just a little tending and a little more fuel would have caused the pile to burn brightly again.
All this reminded me of the faith journey of following Jesus that we’re on. Sometimes we experience the presence and power of God in such a way that Holy Spirit flames of passion burn brightly in our hearts, minds, words, and lives. We believe that nothing is too hard for God, we pray big, we share the good news with joy, we spill contagious faith. Other times we feel like our faith has gotten worn down by words and worries and wars, just as the rain tried to douse our fire. Sometimes we feel like we’re just a pile of ashes, perhaps forgetting who God is, who we are, and maybe wondering if we even know God or if God has forgotten us. We hope that those embers buried deep within can burn brightly again.
To experience these ups and downs is part of the human experience and part of our faith journey following Jesus. This is one of the reasons why we come together to the table of communion, the table of grace each week, just as we are, no matter what season we find ourselves in. We may be full of faith one minute and in the depths of discouragement the next, just like some of our heroes of faith like Abraham, Esther, or Peter. The Holy Spirit fills us up. And yet the apostle Paul tells us to be continually being filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18) because we leak. We are not alone. Jesus has promised to never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). And “we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another” (Romans 12:5).
Today as we enter this space set aside to commune with Christ and one another, we enter a brief silence which helps us to “guard the fire within” as Henri Nouwen put it. In this space we come away from “the fragmenting and distracting wordiness of the dark world” to this silence in which we can discover our true selves, one another, and God. We come to the communion table together in this space and enter into the community of love – with the Father, Christ Jesus, and the Holy Spirit – for which we were created. Jesus made it possible for us to enter in by his life, death, and resurrection. Will you pause with me for a few moments of silence as we enter this space together?
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)
