Do You Live Reconciled to God?

As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying,“Take it, for this is my body.”

And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. And he said to them,“This is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice for many.”           Mark 14:22-24 (NLT)

Lectionary texts: Exodus 24:3-8, Psalm 116, Hebrews 9:11-15, Mark 14:12-26

This week is celebrating “Corpus Christi”, the Body of Christ. For me it is about the the many facets of the mystery of how God reconciles us to Himself and we celebrate that through the sacrament of communion. (Remember that a sacrament is an outward sign of an inward change.)

In receiving the extraordinary gift of being reconciled to God through Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross, I am at once caught up in the celebration that is communion. I am “new” and “light” without the darkness and cloud of deception that covers me when I am in sin. I want to lift the cup and drink, dancing in jubilation over what Jesus has accomplished in my life. But Jesus doesn’t stop there.

It is Jesus’ desire that I learn with Him the completeness of what it means of be His disciple. That I learn the tools and recognize the value of His ongoing gifts of patience, kindness, and healing. But in learning I also realize that there is a cost involved in being a full disciple.

Jesus offered the bread and the cup to His disciples to drink. He did not force them to accept. They all did. Jesus asked, “Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?” (Matthew 20:22) And as He dsaid that we do not understand what this involves.

Jesus’ life was one of servitude and suffering. It was first a life of caring for others more than Himself. It washing the feet of those who may be un-lovely and ungrateful. It is a life with an abundance of joy and strength for whatever comes. It is choosing to live in that abundance of intangibles that makes this life more than beareable.

How can I repay the Lord for all the good He has done for me?
I will take the cup of salvation and call on the name of Yahweh.
I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all His people.

The death of His faithful ones is valuable in the Lord’s sight.
\Lord, I am indeed Your servant; I am Your servant, the son of Your female servant.
You have loosened my bonds.

I will offer You a sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of Yahweh.
I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all His people,
in the courts of the Lord’s house—within you, Jerusalem.
Hallelujah!          Psalm 116:13-19 (HCSB)

Take time today and tell the LORD what you are grateful for . List the many, many many blessings that have fallen upon you and allow you to live in joy and peace despite any burdens that you must carry for now.