Holy Communion: More than Religious Words and Ritual

The Presence by Alfred Edward Borthwick, Mary's Cathedral, Scotland in 1910

Christ is in The Presence of a woman in St. Mary's Cathedral, Scotland in 1910.

The painting depicts Christ’s presence as He comforts a woman who has stayed behind others gathered to and have gone forward for Holy Communion.

Why has she not gone forward with everyone else? Is she overwhelmed by sin and not being worthy of the broken body and the blood of Christ? Maybe.

Could it be that she is the only one in the church who is preparing her heart to take Communion, versus going forward and making Holy Communion nothing more than a religious act? She has considered the weight of Paul's instructions in 1 Cor. 11:27-32.

Blessings of Christ,

Owen <><

1 Corinthians 11:27-32 (NIV)  “Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.”

My Prayer, By His Power

“Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.” ~ Zechariah 4:6

I have no might or power, only my Lord's Holy Spirit can manifest a good work, indeed bring a miracle to pass.  … … I can never again pray for help that focuses on God to empower me. Never can pray that He help accomplish Christ’s work. My Lord has placed His Spirit in me and upon me to be a witness of Christ, to disciple, to love … what he has told me, a follower, to do.

  

I can only pray with a surrendered will and life to my Lord, in hope that He will use me as an open conduit, through which His Holy Spirit’s power accomplishes the will of the Father.

So, I pray, “Not I, not for what my will desires, but in the will and by the power of the Lord God Almighty’s Spirit that God’s will be manifest. In the Name above all names, Jesus Christ, so be it, Amen and Amen.” 

In Christ alone, a conduit of His Spirit,

Owen <><

“Father, … yet not my will, but yours be done.” ~ Luke 22:42

Death and Taxes or Choose Life

“Jesus … saw a man named Matthew

sitting at the tax collector's booth.

‘Follow me,’ he told him,

and Matthew got up and followed him.”

~Matthew 9:9

When Jesus told Matthew, “Follow Me,” Matthew did not leave his lucrative tax table to

die a young pauper.

No, he obeyed Christ’s call and chose eternal life found only in the riches of God's mercy and grace.

That was not an act of an opportunist being strong, it was an act of a humble man knowing his own weakness and that he needed what only God could provide.

God bless,

Owen