And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood." Luke 22:19-20
And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. Colossians 3:14
This weekend we celebrated World Communion Sunday. As I read through the liturgy, I pondered upon the word “communion” which means, “the sharing or exchanging of intimate thoughts and feelings, especially when the exchange is on a mental or spiritual level.” I began to pray, reaching out for the “holy” in Holy Communion, to have a deeper connection to Christ and with those that Christ has called me to serve and love.
And then, we came to the liturgy that spoke most deeply to me,
By Your Spirit make us one with Christ,
one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world,
until Christ comes in final victory, and we feast at His heavenly banquet (U.M. Book of Worship).
My beloved community, in this divided and sometimes harsh world, we are invited by Christ to be renewed, to be faithful, and to be a witness. We are called to oneness not sameness. The table has been set. We have been fed. May we daily go into the world strengthen by the Spirit of Christ that makes us one. Amen.
May this devotion provide you with a moment of faithful reflection and care. You are involved in ministries of justice and witness, in ministries of standing up and standing with people working to create better systems and communities, in ministries of learning and searching and researching to become more aware and awakened, more technologically savvy and proficient, more virtually and personally present in your churches and communities and world. Each of us who serve as members of your Wisconsin Cabinet write these devotions in grateful prayer for you – for sustenance and buoyancy, for strength and courage, for safety and just actions, and for faith and love to be full and fulfilled in your daily lives. God’s grace and blessings, God’s challenge and healthy discomfort, God’s Spirit and energy be with you, in the hope Christ offers us all.