I worked on two different blog posts yesterday, one entitled “Transformation” and one with the working title “Am I Addicted?” This is neither of those. They’ve been shelved for possible revision and posting at a later date. To alleviate any concern about the second title, it refers to my first intentional fast from e-mail and the internet, which occurred yesterday. Had it not been for the fast, I would have added one of the two writings to Thoughts Collected. I’m glad I didn’t.
With some new insights about my use of connected devices, I resumed reading an on-line Lenten devotional this morning, scrolled through Facebook (looks like most of what I missed yesterday was pictures of pets), and opened my e-mail inbox to find 48 messages, 43 of which I deleted without opening. I share below someone else’s words which made the cut, impacted me, and I now pass along to you. If you are interested in the source of this writing, please follow this link to Words of Hope.
In Remembrance of Me
April 12, 2017
Read: Luke 22:14-20
This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. (v. 19)
Ask someone to talk about their happiest memories, and see how quickly they mention food. The smell of home-baked bread, Thanksgiving dinner, the chocolate chip cookies your mom used to make when you were a child—it’s remarkable how many of our best memories revolve around eating.
Think about the role food plays in the story of salvation. Manna from heaven, the Passover meal, the feeding of the 5,000, the fatted calf slain when the prodigal son returned home, the disciples sitting on the beach, by the Sea of Galilee, eating baked fish with the resurrected Jesus—again and again God’s people experience God’s grace when partaking of food.
The most significant meal in the story of salvation is the Last Supper. Down through the centuries Christian writers and preachers have used countless words to try to explain the meaning and significance of this meal. Yet Luke’s telling of the story is elegant in its simplicity: “This is my body,” said Jesus, “which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me . . . This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood” (vv. 19-20).
I have served and partaken of the elements countless times. But those words still stop me in my tracks, and put a lump in my throat: “given for you . . . poured out for you.” Sometimes, it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. —Lou Lotz
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for the gift of salvation.
