Lowly elements, good gifts, and distressing disguises
August 20th, 2023 – Communion Meditation
Communion is a time when we meet intentionally with the Lord, to partake in the life of Christ through the elements, and in doing so to receive whatever good gifts Jesus wants to give us. This taking part in the life of Christ also means we are sent back out on mission as Christ’s ambassadors.
As I prayed and pondered about today’s Lord’s Supper, our time of communion together with Christ, I was reminded of a quote by Mother Teresa, who said that to be contemplative in the heart of the world means “seeking the face of God in everything, everyone, all the time, and his hand in every happening,” and “seeing and adoring the presence of Jesus, especially in the lowly appearance of bread, and in the distressing disguise of the poor.”
In Communion, we are preparing our hearts to receive the body and blood of Christ through these lowly elements of flatbread and juice. We are challenged to consider: Can we see and adore the presence of Jesus through these lowly elements? And as we adore Christ, are we willing to receive all of the good gifts that the Lord wants to give us?
In Communion, we are also preparing our hearts to be sent back out on mission as Christ’s ambassadors. All people are image bearers of God, no matter how distressing their disguises. We are challenged to consider: Which person or group do I consider to be the most distressing? It might be a family member or friend, someone I am offended with, or someone who is very different from me. It might be an influencer, a politician, or someone I would rather not think about. It might be a group whose struggles seem insurmountable, whose beliefs and practices rub me up the wrong way, or with whom I struggle to find any connection. Are we willing to be sent on mission as Christ’s ambassadors to whomever God chooses?
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.” 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.”
