Communion: He renews ALL things
What have I done
with my kingdom heart? Where am I currently taking it?... You have a
heart for joy—where is your hope for joy set right now? You have a heart for
redemption—where are you taking your heart for redemption these days? You ache
for restoration, yours and those you love—where is your hope for restoration
these days? – John Eldredge, Ransomed
Heart Daily Reading
“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord & have made the Lord
their hope & confidence.” – Jeremiah 17:7
Melancholy, the word itself sounds morose. It fits ill upon
the tongue. Still, this is where my boat is moored, along melancholy lake. The
water is glass still. Fog seeps across the surface, hugging tight, making every
view slant and eerie. In periphery, I see fires burning: warm, inviting. There
is a stirring that cinches my gut. At the hearth of these fires, burning wild
& bright, is where I was meant to be. In communion with that which makes me
whole, The Divine. In communion with others. For this is what we were created
for.
Communion (n.):
1. the sharing or exchanging of intimate
thoughts & feelings, especially when the exchange is on a mental or
spiritual level
2. the service of Christian worship at which
bread & wine are consecrated & shared
The moment my sweet friend, Abby, gifted me with the
communion bowl and wine I knew I would create a space for communion in my home.
This amazing space that God has given me is more than I can capture into words.
It has a life and energy to it that fits my soul perfectly. I love every corner
and crevice in this nook of mine. I have nested. It will take a great gale wind
to roost me from my resting place. I hope this disruption will happen years
into the future. It has been the one refuge in the midst of these trying
months.
Communion, as a Christian practice, is a serious ceremony. I
didn’t want to embark on this journey half-heartedly. I wanted to imbue the
reverence that this sacrament deserved. I struggled with presence. I knew I
would. There are times in our life when tradition and ceremony can lead us to
the cross. In modern American Christianity, we have become all about the feels.
Tradition and practice of the faith has been scoffed at. Jesus is our best
friend, and there is little “sacristy” in worship. This isn’t the collective
whole, and I know the trappings of placing too much import on the sacrifice
instead of the Sacrificial Lamb…
Scripture:
As they were eating, Jesus took some bread. He offered a blessing over
the bread, and then He broke it and gave it to His disciples.
Jesus: Take this and eat; it is My body.
And then He took the cup
of wine, He made a blessing over it, and He passed it around the table.
Jesus: Take this and drink, all of you: this is My blood of the new
covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. But I tell
you: I will not drink of the fruit of the vine again until I am with you once
more, drinking in the kingdom of My Father.
The meal concluded.
Together, all the men sang a hymn of praise and thanksgiving, and then they
took a late evening walk to the Mount of Olives.
-
Matthew 26: 26-30 (The Voice)
I wonder what
His disciples must have thought?... in celebration
of Passover, steeped in tradition, here goes Jesus talking about His body and
blood. Many, used to His cadence, may have assumed this is just the way
Jesus speaks. Intelligent men, I’m certain, at this point, most understood that
He was speaking more than just rhetoric. Maybe they were pondering in their heart.
Did Judas sing the hymn and walk with them in the cool of the evening partway
to the Mount of Olives? At what point did he leave the band of merry followers
to walk the crooked road of betrayal?
Looking toward the cross, they had no hindsight of what was to come.
They were looking dimly into a future they could never foresee.
I love The Voice translation of v. 30…The meal
concluded. Together, all the men sang a hymn of praise & thanksgiving, and
then they took a late evening walk to the Mount of Olives.
All other
translations denote them going directly to the Mount of Olives. There is no
journey or progression. I like this transition. This marked interval between Passover and Crucifixion.
In these
moments leading up to the Mount of Olives, the walk in the cool of the evening,
I believe it was a picture of the whole union of Christ and His people. There
was likely laughter at something James had done, or Andrew could be ribbing
Peter about the time he walked on water. I want to know this in-between time. I
want to grasp it in my mind. The joy that swelled as Jesus looked at each of
these men he loved so much. As He prayed for them, as he prayed for us, and
what was to come. There was communion there. Sweeter than any sorrow that would
befall in the darkness to come.
Consecration:
I anoint each
home I’m in. Typically, I look for a Scripture that resonates with me & go
about the home anointing the door & window frames with essential oils
(usually Frankincense, Lavender, or Myrrh). I chose to do this again before I
began communion in my home – calling out protection, healing, fortitude, and
the safe space I wanted each room to be.
My Scripture
Verse:
“Just think – you don’t
need a thing, you’ve got it all! All God’s gifts are right in front of you as
you wait expectantly for our Master Jesus to arrive on the scene for the
Finale. And not only that, but God himself is right alongside to keep you
steady and on track until things are all wrapped up by Jesus. God, who got you
started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of his Son and our
Master Jesus. He will never give up on you. Never forget that. – 1
Corinthians 1: 7-9 The Message
I also
defused Cinnamon, Myrrh, & Frankincense throughout my home. The smell was
amazing. I kept it going all through the night. It settled my mind & kept
me focused – a savoring experience.
I made my own unleavened bread. This was such a beautiful experience. The act of needing and preparing the delicious fragrant dough. Making my own bitter herbs. It was a sacrament in and of itself.
After
communion, I went for a walk, as the disciples did. I listened to this
wonderful song by Brooke Fraser:
“Then He who sat on the
throne said, “Behold I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for
these words are true and faithful.” – Revelation 21:5
Comments