Eating in community. Eating with friends. Eating the Last Supper with the disciples who would later be the beginnings of the Church as we know it today. 

This year we are watching people get sick. Not all of us can eat together. Some are dying and some end up ok. Unfortunately, we have a taste of how the disciples may have felt. The disciples had their last meal with Jesus. He was going to be arrested and he was going to die. Then they would all be on their own (or so they thought) to spread God’s Word (even though they didn’t really understand everything in God’s plan until Jesus came back to life).

I just heard Bishop Zeiser speak tonight about why he feels it is theologically wrong for us to try to do Holy Communion over computer screens. I agree with him. When we sit, stand, kneel, and gather at the Lord’s Table, Jesus, our Lord, is our Holy Host. When we remember the Last Supper, when we come together for the Holy Meal, it is a very sacred and special time when we receive parts of God. We receive the bread and wine and we receive God. God comes to us. God is tangible, touchable. God is there to say this is the bread, this is MY BODY GIVEN up FOR YOU. God says to our hearts, this is the wine, this is MY BLOOD SHED FOR YOU that you may know you are LOVED. YOU ARE FORGIVEN! This is FOR YOU. (This was Martin Luther’s favorite part to lean on. He always wanted priests to emphasize how much this is for each and every individual who receives it. He wanted all of us to take time to know it is a special moment between us and our Lord God.)

We may not be back together yet this year to celebrate this very special meal hosted by Yours Truly (God). I hope that when we do finally come back together, worship, and share this meal together in community, it will take on a deeper meaning for you or maybe just remind you of how much God loves you from the moment you were created!

As your pastor, I am always humbled as I look into each of your eyes and know in my heart that none of us are perfect and that God loves YOU just as much as God forgives and loves me! I look forward to celebrating this very holy and special meal with you as  soon as we can be together again! Amen. Come Lord Jesus!