Hello –
It was so good to be back in my role as a steward of God’s mysteries here at St. Paul’s this past Sunday. One of the great pleasures was the strong, engaged reactions I got to my sermon on Jesus’ claim, which ought to startle us more than it probably does, that he is ‘the bread of life’ and we are to eat him. I invited us to experience communion once again as the strange practice its is. (Here’s the sermon. Like almost every Sunday’s sermon, it’s on the front page of our website.)
Yesterday, coincidentally, I reread a favorite poem and was surprised by how precisely and beautifully it expressed what I was trying to get at in my sermon. I wanted to send it along to you as an invitation to keep on, well, ‘chewing’ on this fundamental mystery that communion bread is the body of Christ.
Love III
George Herbert (Published 1633)
Love bade me welcome: yet my should drew back,
Guilty of dust and sin.
But quick-eyed love, observing me grow slack
From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me sweetly questioning,
If I lacked anything.
A guest, I answered, worthy to be here:
Love said, You shall be he
I, the unkind, ungrateful? Ah my dear,
I cannot look on thee.
Love took my hand, and smiling did reply,
Who made the eyes but I?
Truth Lord, but I have marred them: let my shame
Go where it doth deserve.
And know you not, says Love, who bore the blame?
My dear, then I will serve.
You must sit down, says Love, and taste my meat
So I did sit and eat.
Blessings,
Christopher
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