My mom and dad have a house on Pine Lake. Brian and I decided to spend Memorial Day here with family. Right now I’m sitting on the deck with my mom, dad, and sister, eating some lunch. It's warm and sunny, but there’s a nice cool breeze blowing in off the lake. What a perfect day.
We're thinking about Memorial Day, a time to remember the sacrifices many have made for our freedoms. The greatest sacrifice of all of course was that of Jesus Christ. Our conversation around the table turns to the last supper… when Jesus said, “Remember me”. I wonder what he had in mind with that comment. Did he really plan on us creating a sacrament to be celebrated every Sunday with bread and juice? Or was Jesus giving us a tool to help us practice His presence? Knowing that we would eat at least three times a day, was Jesus simply giving us a regular reason to refocus our thoughts on Him three times a day? Could Jesus be saying, “When you eat and drink, don’t just fill your stomach. Fill your heart, mind, and spirit with memories of me. Come away from all the distractions when you eat, and take a moment to take me in, invite me into your thoughts, and remember me.”
This has become one of my new experiments; to experience true communion with Christ every time I eat or drink. I know if you pray before a meal that should already happen. But honestly, how often is a meal prayer done in a hurried habitual manner that never really allows for an adequate escape from distractions? What would it be like to continually pray throughout a meal, making every bite and each sip an invitation to the indwelling of Christ? What affect would it have on me to know that three times a day I am remembering the sacrifice of Christ on the cross?
I will try to find out. Anyone else want to give it a try?
Posted on
Mon, May 25, 2009
by Chris Spitters