Meditationen am Gnadenstuhl: Judica Sunday (Lent V)
Judica Sunday (Lent V)
Daily Lectionary Readings: Exodus 1:1-22; Mark 14:12-31; (Sirach 26)
Mark 14:12–31 [22] And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” [23] And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. [24] And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. [25] Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
Again and again, we receive Jesus' invitation to the Sacrament of the Altar. In it, Jesus feeds us to build up our faith and strengthen it even as He forgives our sins. He fortifies you to withstand the decay of this world and the temptation to give in and stop resisting it. And as if Jesus drawing us all to Himself and into tighter fellowship with each other were not blessing enough, Jesus' invitation to His Holy Supper also brings us into communion with the saints of all times and places in the heavenly marriage feast of the lamb, which has no end.
As we reach the end of another Lententide, we have been made aware of our sin and need for repentance. We acknowledge that our relationships with God and men are broken by our sins. Occasionally you may feel as though you really should not be here. Not worthy to receive such a gift. Not saint enough to commune with the pious believers in this place. That is okay; everyone has that happen every so often. What is not okay; what is, in fact, sinful, is absenting yourself from the Sacrament.
The fact that you feel like a sinner and that you hold the Lord's Supper in such high regard as to think you would tarnish it by your presence is the very reason why you should run, not walk, to the rail and receive what God has to give. This do in remembrance of me. In remembrance of what happened on the cross. All this was done for you. Jesus suffered and died for you. It is for this that Jesus prayed flat on His face, sweat blood, and sought to have the yoke of our sins removed from Him; such was the weight of the burden upon Him.
The beautiful thing about the Lord's Supper is that it is always efficacious. A sermon cannot connect with every person every Sunday. We sing many hymns but do not always reflect on their words. Our attention wanders such that the reading of Scripture does not always make an impact. But the body and blood of Christ Jesus upon your tongue buries your sins on the cross. Not only "this is My body," but "this is my body which is given for you.” Not only “this cup is the New Testament in My blood,” but “This is My blood shed for you!”
The body and blood of Jesus cannot be separated from the benefits they bring to the table. Is means is, and the Supper does what Jesus says it should do, completely independent of your thoughts or feelings on the matter. The only moment that matters is Jesus’ moment, instituted on the night He was betrayed and resonating across the corridors of time and space when heaven comes to earth, and Jesus comes to dwell in you. The only worthy vessel to hold this Sacrament is the body of a repentant sinner. Likewise, do not feel that communing more frequently makes the Sacrament somehow less special: Jesus makes it special, every time, everywhere. Similarly, do not commune casually or carelessly as if on autopilot. Do not abstain but partake of this miracle as often as possible! Treasure it! Rejoice in it!
Jesus prepared this feast for you. Why wouldn’t you want to come? It does not often happen that folks will not come up for communion at a service where it is offered. However, there are ways in which we come to the table yet are not really here. Coming to the Lord’s table without preparation or in a casual, automatic manner is dangerous!
Where there is forgiveness, so also there is the bestowal of eternal life and salvation for all who come. The vaccination given to you in your baptism is fortified by the booster shot of the Lord's Supper, equipping you to navigate in a sinful world, overcome the temptations of the devil and your sinful nature, and be of service to your neighbor in need. The worthy recipient not only recognizes these things but desires to obtain them as often as possible.