Christmas Communion
Luke 22:19 (New Living Translation)
19 He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.”
It was the second Sunday in Advent but the first Sunday of the month, so as we do in our church on the first Sunday, we prepared to share communion.
As the familiar words were read, "This is my body..." they took on special significance because this is a time of year when we think of his incarnation--his birth.
Once done, this thing, this planting of God in humanity, there was no turning back, no way out but through the pain and agony of a sacrificial death.
"This is my body..." Did they realize what it meant when he said that? Do we?
The familiar manger scene depicts that precious body in babyhood; vulnerable, as it would remain to the end; a gift given by choice, for us.
Philippians 2:6-8 (New Living Translation)
6 Though he was God,[a]
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges[b];
he took the humble position of a slave[c]
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,[d]
8 he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
A Gift Divine,
A Gift sublime,
And he is mine...
19 He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.”
It was the second Sunday in Advent but the first Sunday of the month, so as we do in our church on the first Sunday, we prepared to share communion.
As the familiar words were read, "This is my body..." they took on special significance because this is a time of year when we think of his incarnation--his birth.
Once done, this thing, this planting of God in humanity, there was no turning back, no way out but through the pain and agony of a sacrificial death.
"This is my body..." Did they realize what it meant when he said that? Do we?
The familiar manger scene depicts that precious body in babyhood; vulnerable, as it would remain to the end; a gift given by choice, for us.
Philippians 2:6-8 (New Living Translation)
6 Though he was God,[a]
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges[b];
he took the humble position of a slave[c]
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,[d]
8 he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
A Gift Divine,
A Gift sublime,
And he is mine...
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