I don't want to miss it

Do you ever feel like there's more going on

(than you are getting)

and just wish you would stop

missing it?

Like, a deeper meaning,

that (if you could just grasp it)

would bring you a gift of healing,

or a blessing of joy and peace,

or totally set you free?

I feel that way at Christmas,

and Advent, and Easter.

I long to slow down and savor the truth

(before it all passes, and I've missed it).

Communion is like that for many.

It is the place our sin collides

with God

our sin collides

with the worst pain

imaginable,

suffered by the most innocent,

loving, Son of Man

and our salvation is sealed.

You see,

"on the night he was betrayed, 

Jesus took bread,

and when he had given thanks, he broke it" 

Many of us thank God for our meal

before we eat.

But Christ picked up the bread,

and thought about

how God provided,

and He was thankful,

He thought about how the bread was like His body

soon to be broken

And He was thankful.

"and said, “This is my body, which is for you; 

do this in remembrance of me.” 

How could Jesus ask His friends,

to take the life

that lived to heal,

the life 

that lived to love,

the life 

that lived to show us the Father,

How could He ask us to participate

in the breaking of His body,

and eat?

This life 

that was fully God

and fully man.

This life that was knit together in His mothers womb,

that lived as a baby, a boy and a man,

that was tempted in every way we are tempted,

but without sinning

so He could offer His perfect life,

as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

A sacrifice,

made once,

and for all.

And just as bread nourishes our body to give us strength,

He desires His gift of life to be part of us,

to nourish us

and give us strength.

"In the same way, after supper he took the cup, 

saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood;" 

The old covenant was based on obedience to the law,

and was sealed by the blood of a spotless lamb.

The sacrifice was still imperfect,

and had to be made regularly.

But this New Covenant,

based on faith in Christ,

is secured by His blood,

the blood that flowed through the veins

of this perfect man

the very heart of God,

making a way for holiness,

and adoption,

into the family of God

He willingly makes this sacrifice

to wash us from our sins.

And He said: "do this, 

whenever you drink it, 

in remembrance of me.” 

For whenever you eat this bread 

and drink this cup, 

you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Christ knew how quickly we forget,

how easily we get distracted,

how consistently we settle for less

than the joy and freedom He died for us to live in.

And He didn't want us to distort the truth of this gift,

or miss it's holiness, and benefit and blessing.

"So then, [He warned] 

whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord 

in an unworthy manner 

will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 

Slow down.

Consider the love.

Consider the gift

(represented by the juice and bread)

and be blessed.

Everyone ought to examine themselves 

before they eat of the bread 

and drink from the cup. 

For those who eat and drink 

without discerning the body of Christ 

eat and drink judgment on themselves.

before they eat of the bread 

and drink from the cup. 

For those who eat and drink 

without discerning the body of Christ 

eat and drink judgment on themselves.