Dear Faith Family,
The "church" can be and do a variety of things. Many of the edifices, services, and traditions are rich and wonderful, blessing those who come in contact with them. Unfortunately, some "church things" are also dusty and demeaning, degrading rather than cultivating flourishing. Still, when we strip away the could, can, and have been of the centuries since its origins in the Book of Acts, we find the "church" at its simplest as those gathered to Jesus...sharing His table and life.
"Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it
and gave it to the disciples, and said, 'Take, eat: this is my body.'
And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, 'Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for the many for the forgiveness of sins."
(Matthew 26:26-28)
Jesus' invitation to receive what is His gathers us from all of our different places, backgrounds, and affiliations to make us "the Church."
And sharing His life through the witness of our living in, by, and for Him around the table with others is the end of church as we know it.
"the shared table is a shared life."
(Walter Kasper)
As the last several Sunday stories in Acts have shown us, sharing Jesus' life (and life with Jesus) around the table with others is the simplest -- "fundamental, free from complication in form, nature, or design; without much decoration or ornamentation" -- way of being and doing "church."
While there is more we can and will be and do together as the church, let us consider today how blessed we are to be loved by a God who makes life with Him simple. May our meditations lead us to praise, and dinner invitations!
Love you, faith family! God bless.