A Change of Tense to Contemplate

Being handed over to suffering and death, our Lord Jesus Christ takes bread; and giving thanks to God, he breaks it, and gives it to his disciples, saying; “Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”

And he also takes the cup of wine; and giving thanks, he gives it to them, saying; “Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”


-LE

God is awesome; God stands before time and also after;

The Bread and the Wine

Some reach for the cup
Others open their mouths, faithful that you will tip carefully
Some grasp the bottom of the cup
And control the tip
Some just sip, so timidly that you wonder if they received
Others manhandle the cup and take a significant helping

Some raise their hands for the bread
But many, many leave their hands low
Their hands cupped, almost closed
You must reach down
Reach in
And place the bread inside their hands
Like a seed within a pod
Like a child within a womb
Encourage them to take, to taste

The wine seems more welcome than the bread
Perhaps the wine is like the spirit
The blessings of the spirit
Heady, inspiring, and lifting
And the bread is like the body
Reminding us of our mortality
Of our flesh, and its failings
Of our suffering, of our limitations

Or maybe we want to sense the physicality of the bread
To have it thrust upon us
To have God reach out to us
Touch us in our mortal life
We need the thrust, the touch, the impinging of God upon us

Perhaps this is why
It feels like I must give the bread
But that the wine
People are eager to receive

May you find that God reaches out to you
And that you are much beloved.

-LE

A Different Feast

As the sun gazes warmly down
I look down the railbed;
A haze of moisture rises from the earth;
It's hot, and humid.
Making things a few thousand feet away faint and misty.
A freight-car on a siding is a misty, pinkish box.
The cattails sway beside me,
And I hear the train approaching in the distance,
It's horn sounds mournful.

And now the train is here and people are boarding.
I board last, and find a seat in an air-conditioned car,
And watch the ferns, rocks, forests and streams slide past my window,
The train gently rumbling along.

I'd much rather be out there,
With some silly kids,
Poking under rocks and spying on birds and bunnies,
Splashing in streams.
And getting bit by mosquitos.
Getting wet, sweaty, and muddy.

For me, that would be a feast.

About The Feast

The feast doesn't end at the altar
The feast doesn't end with a prayer
The feast doesn't end with dismissal
The feast doesn't end just there.

'Are you able to drink the cup I drink?'

Are we able to feast with our God?

God's feast isn't just for us to eat and drink.

God's feast is something more.
God's feast is what we try to do with our whole lives.

Join the Feast!

Eat This Scroll!

There are some foods that,
When you eat or drink them,
More than a little,
They drain you of energy...
They leach vitamins from your body...
They addict you...
They confuse and muddle you...
They rot the flesh and bones of you.

I have different food.
It calms your heart.
It clears your blood vessels.
It clears your mind.
It strengthens you.
It helps you grow.
It can even make you wise.

But first you must eat it, digest it, and make it part of you.

I have this food from God, the Great Chef, the Creator of the banquet that lies before us. God, who loves us every one, wherever we stand and whomever we are.

Why would you spend for that which is not wholesome, and eat that which does not satisfy? Come, buy without money and eat that which is good for you.

Isaiah 55:1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

This food is transformative, creative, empowering, and inclusive.

All are invited to share in the feast, and in sharing, to become siblings.

Eating, and sharing, we are changed.
And being changed, we become new.

Share in the feast of love.

The Friend's Response

Dear Friend:

Thanks for asking me to table
It's so nice that we can share
Whenever the family's together
Please know that I am there.

In response to: Dear Friend...

Dear Friend...

Dear Friend

I miss talking to you the way we used to
I am sorry so many things end up in the way
Could you come over tonight
And share a little dinner with us?
We'd all love to spend a little time with you.
It will be chaos as usual, but
You know there's always a place for you
At the table.