September 9, 2025

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty in respect to the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself [or herself], then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup [in a worthy manner]. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself [or herself].”  (1 Corinthians 11.27-29)

TODAY’S REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD TO US:

In John’s gospel, we hear these words from Jesus. He had spoken them to those Jews who had believed in Him. That is a curious statement to me only because, for the most part, it was only Jews to whom Jesus presented Himself. Yes, we know of His travels through Samaria but even Samarians were part Jewish. He grew up in Nazareth and Capernaum and ministered there after His baptism by John in the Jordan. That area was about as culturally cosmopolitan as Ephesus, Athens or Rome. Still, we know He went first to the synagogues preaching first to the Jews and then to those who seemingly listened more intently to the gospel. But it is not that Jewish exclusivity which John was asking us to remember. He directs our hearing of the Word to those who were Jewish and did not believe. We have to believe because Jesus is God that all people were and are His people. Still, He considered His people first as Jewish and then as “those who do the will of My Heavenly Father.” His first love was God, of course. His second love were the people whom God had called to be His own as missionaries, emissaries and examples of living lives of righteousness. The only way to live such a life was to be engaged, immersed and obedient to the Word of God. That Word was given as law, wisdom, prophecy and history. It was given to speak to people at every level and in every walk of life. There was not a person disqualified from hearing the Word, receiving the Word and benefitting from it. That meant it was not exclusive to the Jews though they should know it best, do it best and be it best. They were God’s true community of faith; at least that was the hope.

That is one of the things I reflect upon when I read the scripture for today (the same as it was for yesterday) “…for anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body.” Yesterday, I spoke to “the body” as considered in two directions: 1) the body of Christ sacrificed at Calvary as the atonement offering to pay for our freedom from the penalty of sin and 2) the body of believers who understood themselves to be connected as a community of faith in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God and Savior of the world. Today, I press into that community of believers to the point of each individual. I believe that when Paul presented this “communion” admonition, he was speaking of the necessary introspection which must occur. Yes, we are individually saved by the grace of God through Jesus Christ. Sort of like the Musketeer’s proverbial battle cry “All for one and one for all,” we are a collective. In Paul’s words, however, we are reminded that we are like the human body with many parts. Each part has a function and purpose. It is formed and fashioned in a particular way so as to serve with the other parts to accomplish the tasks and purposes for which the whole of the body was created. Paul iterates that just as the body is not just one part (i.e. an “eye” body, a “nose” body, a “foot” body, etc.) so each part is of one body (i.e. the body of Christ with Christ as the head of that body.) You can read my reflections on Ephesians, chapter five as to the understanding of “head of household” over, against and in conjunction with “head of the body of believers.” Here, it is important to simply focus on none of us were created to be the “head of the body of believers.” That position and responsibility belongs only to Jesus Christ. (What does that say about those titular heads of denominations, sects and religions? Hmmmm….) Moving past that, when we consider the didache of the sacrament of communion, Paul invites us and even commands us with his warning, to consider the body, our own, as in response to the call of faith. This reminds me of the reconciliation story of Peter at the lakeside prior to Jesus’ ascension. As Jesus calls Peter to consider his own beliefs in Jesus by asking “Do you love me?” three times to which Peter responds in the affirmative, so I believe we are to hear the same questions as we come before the Table of the Lord to break bread and share in the cup of the new covenant. Remember, that for Jesus and especially for Peter, the affirmative responses were not merely yesses but assents to duty and responsibility to do “his part.” What was that part? It was actually expressed in three parts: love those with whom He had shared the Jesus experience as His disciples; love those who would be a part of the greater mission to share the gospel and to love those of the next generation of believers coming to faith because of the work of the sheep and original lambs of God. In this we can truly hear the challenge of that rally cry “All for one (Christ and His ministry) and one (the body of believers and each a vital member of it) for all.” We are in this together!

Moreover, it is a call of accountability at a personal level to not only how we minister to others but how we minister to ourselves. How are we taking care of our own body (knowing spiritual that Christ is the head of each of us as individuals as He is of the whole body of believers)? How are we preparing for life and for the ministry to which we were called as we were created to be from the beginning? Are we studying the word? Are we meditating on the word? Are we sharing the word and learning from others so that our eyes to see and ears to hear actually experience the fullness of the word? Are we polluting the body and allowing our focus to stray believing somehow that we are of two bodies. Yes, this walk of life, this life of faith, is not for the faint of heart. Neither is it impossible. Do not think, mighty ones of God, for a moment that Paul was speaking of disqualifying ourselves from partaking of communion individually and corporately. Far from it! Instead, as we each come to the Table, ever how we do it and are led to do so in worship, we should see first and foremost our very need for that communion. We need the reminder that we cannot do this faith thing alone nor on or own. We need one another. We need Jesus. We need His blessed gift of the Holy Spirit. We need God! The service of communion is to remind us of these very needs in our lives. Remember, Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. He is also the only means by which we can gain true unity with God our Father who seeks us out, saves us and brings us in. He does this through Jesus, His Good Shepherd. Yes, even Jesus had His part to perform in the whole scope of the body of faith. We are in this together. This is what we must discern about ourselves and our commitment to be fitted for the service of the Lord. Communion is our affirmation, our confirmation, our consecration and our dedication to be a part of the way, the truth and the life which results in dwelling with God forever and ever. AMEN.

TODAY’S PRAYER IN RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD:

Father, in these days we are finding the need to believe even more than ever before. We all have known trouble, some in greater ways than others, but You are offering us the assurance that we will not be consumed by it forever. Regardless of the “time” we are in and the “time” we have been given, we ask for Your Holy Spirit which Jesus asked You to share with us, to lead and guide and direct us in the paths we should go. Teach us what we still need to learn. Empower us to put that learning into action. Bless our actions not as a works righteousness but as righteous works of faith, hope and love in Jesus’ name. AMEN.