Today is World Communion Sunday, the day when Christians around the world gather at the Lord’s Table to remember that Jesus is the gift of God’s love spoken in every language.
Today, we remember how Jesus was the gift of God’s love as he took bread, blessed it, gave it to his disciples and said, “Take, eat, this is my body.” Today, we remember how Jesus was the gift of God’s love as he took a cup, and after giving thanks, said “Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
Today is World Communion Sunday, the day when Christians around the world gather at the Lord’s Table to remember the gift of God’s love spoken in every language.
Will Willimon tells of a time when he heard about the God’s love being shared when he asked members of the class to share about the most memorable meal they ever had. Members of the class told of memorable meals in fancy French restaurants in Toronto, of a great little bistro they discovered in San Francisco, of a six-course meal at a five-star restaurant in New York.
Then one man said, “The best meal I ever had was in WWII, the morning after a night of terrible battle. I staggered up over a hill and saw a woman from the Red Cross in a little trailer in a muddy field. I staggered through the muck to her trailer. She was handing out stale doughnuts and cold coffee. When she handed me mine, she smiled. After the night I had suffered, in that place, at the time, I’d have to say that was about the best meal I ever had.” The man’s stale doughnut and cold coffee was a gift. In most circumstances it would not be considered much of a gift, but it met his deepest need of physical hunger and social hospitality as he received the gift of God’s love.
In reflecting on this memorable meal, Willimon states that “Jesus is the gift of God’s love to the world although the major portion of people around the world do not think Jesus is much of a gift to the world. For them, Jesus is only a crucified carpenter’s son from some God-forsaken place 2000 yefars ago. But for those who believe in him, Jesus is the bread of life. He is the gift that makes life worth living. He is the gift that gives us hope in dying. He is the gift that helps us overcome guilt through radical forgiveness. He is the gift who provides joy in the midst of pain. He is the gift that nourishes us for our daily walk.
One of the churches I served was a shelter site for the homeless for a week during the winter. Part of the hospitality extended from the church to our guests was a hot evening meal, breakfast the next morning, and a bag meal for lunch. One evening, following dinner and prior to sleeping on cots in the church social hall, an invitation for evening vespers was extended as a group of approximately 30 people gathered in the sanctuary. Part of the evening vespers included a time for prayer requests. As I listened to the various requests, I became aware of the language of brokenness as persons shared about the broken realities they were encountering in their lives.
The language I heard was the language of human brokenness that is spoken in every language. The language I heard was the language of brokenness spoken by people:
- who did not have a house or apartment in which to reside
- who mourned the neglected possibilities of life
- whose lives were defined by the lack of hope
Following a time of prayer, the sacrament of holy communion was shared as we gathered at the communion railing to hear the voice of Jesus say, “take, eat, this is my body” and “this is my blood of the covenant.” During the years that have followed that sacramental moment, I have grown to understand that Jesus is the gift of God’s love spoken to people in every language because Jesus is the gift of God’s love who speaks with us in the language of human brokenness.
On this World Communion Sunday, people around the world gather to remember that Jesus is the gift of God’s love as we share the common language of human brokenness that is heard:
- in the after effects of Hurricane Helene
- in the realities of an ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia
- in the Middle East as missiles explode and lives are lost
- in the metro-Lynchburg area as lives are taken through acts of violence
In the years that have followed that sacramental evening, I have grown to understand that when Jesus took bread, broke the bread, and shared it with his disciples, he was speaking to the broken realities of their lives. I have learned that when Jesus shared the cup, he was sharing the gift of God’s forgiveness and possibility that is heard in every language.
Today is World Communion Sunday, the day when Christians around the world gather at the Lord’s Table to remember that Jesus is the gift of God’s love spoken in every language.
Come and share the gift of God’s love.
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Love in Every Language
by Pastor Marc Brown
October 06, 2024
Accompanying Scriptures: Matthew 26:26-29
Fort Hill United Methodist Church
Order of Worship for October 06, 2024
Scripture Lesson Matthew 26:26-29
The Good News “Love in Every Language”
Prayer
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