Visceral compassion and comfort

May 8th, 2022 – Communion Meditation

2 Corinthians 1:3-5 (NLT) – “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ.”

God’s mercy is not like our mercy, which can be limited to certain instances, certain parameters, certain groups, or certain people. God’s mercy is visceral compassion, not just intellectual agreement, but deep feelings that God has for each and every person, which He freely shows and shares with each one who experiences any kind of difficulty or misfortune.

God is the source of all comfort. This means that whenever anyone calls for help, He is there to provide comfort, which is not limited to a warm snuggly blanket kind of comfort, but can also include consolation, solace, warning, urging, advice, instruction, caution, or cheer.

As we come to the Communion table today, let’s open ourselves to receive whatever good gifts God wants to shower upon us today. Then let’s be ready to share those freely with others.

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.“

Gracious God, pour out your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these your gifts, that the bread we break and the cup we bless may be the communion of the body and blood of Christ.

By your Spirit unite us with the living Christ and with all who are baptized in his name. As this bread is Christ’s body for us, send us out to be the body of Christ in the world.

Amen.