Category: Communion Meditation

St Augustine writes concerning Christmas:

“So, brothers and sisters, let us keep this day as a festival—not, like the unbelievers, because of the sun up there in the sky, but because of the One who made that sun.”

The one who made that sun is the Word made flesh. That Word above all earthly powers is the one who sustains our joy. The prophetic word, as Hebrews tells us, leads us to the Final Word. In the same manner, the prophetic word of preaching leads us to the Word in bread and wine. For in this table, the gospel/word is given and we are called to eat of it. But we eat differently than unbelievers, we eat and drink by faith alone for we know that only one true Word made the sun and only one true Word can nourish our bodies and souls.

Paul concludes his tender epistle to the Thessalonians by blessing them: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.” This word of peace is common to the Scriptures. It is a word of profound transparency from the apostle’s heart. He desires nothing more than to see a congregation dwell in the grace of Christ.

This meal is also a word of benediction to us. It is not a spoken word, but an edible word. In bread and wine, we partake of the benediction of God. This sacrament is the seal of our union with our Lord. In these elements the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ is affirmed and renewed in us.

 

This morning though we recapitulate the Advent story, we do not live this Advent story as those in the first century. In that time, their expectation was filled with the sorrow of an old world and covenant. Today, we expect in this season with new eyes; the eyes of a people who have seen the glory of God and have tasted of his goodness. Advent is glorified for us. We expect this morning fully aware that history is moving forward to the eternal consummation when Christ will resurrect his Bride and make her perfect for the feast.

We eat with our Lord already having tasted of His Advent, but longing for more advents. Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus and refresh us as we eat by faith.

Our Lord Jesus Christ comes for us. He comes for us because we have been made worthy in His sight. We are his lovely children; created by His love for the Bride. At this table we come adorned with royal apparel. Our Lord’s death and resurrection have united us to Him; and in this union we share a common meal as we prepare to go into the world and transform it according to the gospel.

We have looked briefly at the book of Revelation in the sermon. Revelation describes a worship service. A great multitude is gathered presenting their praise teo the God of our salvation. The hosts of heaven gather around the throne of God, the trumpets of preaching are sounded, and then the chalices of the Eucharist are poured out on the earth. At this table as we gather to eat and drink we are gathered with the confidence that God will bring justice by uniting his Church represented in bread and nourishing his people in everlasting joy with his wine. Let us gladden our hearts. This is the day the Lord has made!

New Reformations begin with faithful churches where the Word is preached, where proper discipline is administered, and where the sacraments are made available to the baptized faithful. The Church needs to be purified again and again. Paul says that Christ washes his bride. In bread and wine, the bride is being renewed and nourished. In this meal, we are reforming our lives and conforming to the Lord of history.

Sometimes we are tempted not to believe what is actually happening at this table. Sometimes we embrace such rationalism that we fail to believe by faith that Christ is actually present in these means by the Spirit. Like Samson, we fail to see the pressing need of having a Spirit-led faith. May we not fail to embrace this spiritual means by faith. In fact, may our faith be so powerful that our lives are continually reminded of our calling as baptized Christians; the calling to tear down wicked kingdoms and to wrestle arm to arm with the dagons.

This table means that help has come; that we are not left to wander alone in agony and grief, but that Christ has provided a rich banquet for his people. The evil of Delilah’s banquet is replaced with the good food of Christ’s accomplishments. In him we have freedom from bondage and deliverance through his blood. The bondage of the first Adam has been undone through the final Adam, Jesus Christ. Thanks be to God!

One thing we learn from Samson’s narrative is that playing with sin is no game at all. At the Lord’s Table, God’s people come with repentant hearts. Those who come to this table have realized that sin is not to be played nor tested. This is why God’s service to us is so crucial in strengthening our faith. God calls all those who have sinned and fallen short of his glory to taste of his glory in bread and wine. So, come and taste and rejoice.

Samson used his strength both to please God and to dishonor him. This is a sign that what we consider to be our greatest strength can become our weakness. We need to always consider the source of our strength and what purpose God has in using our strength. When Samson took his eyes off his God, he lost sight of why God had strengthened him. He had strengthened him to be a light to the nations. Similarly, we are called to embrace a similar view of life. Our strength, our gifts, can only be used as they should as long as we trust God to guide us. This table helps to re-orient our attention to the source of our strength. At this table, we find that Christ is the one who satisfies our thirst and hunger.