My Adventure...My Reminder

I recently read a quote by an American Philosopher named John Fiske that read... "Is it honest for me to go and sit there on communion day and drink the wine and eat the bread while feeling it all to be mummery?”

The definition of the word mummery is "meaningless ceremony". This quote began to trigger something in my mind that brought a real revelation to my heart. How often do i take communion as just a ritual or tradition? Is it something i do out of a heartfelt relationship or is it just part of the "church runsheet"?

It reminds me of Mark 7 where Jesus is rebuking the phrisees because they are complaining about the disciples not washing their hands in the tradition ceremonial way..and Jesus makes a powerful statement and says "thus you nullify (make void) the word of God by your traditions"..It triggered something in me about communion and why we do what we do...

Last weekend we went mountain climbing at Mount Walsh (just outside Biggenden). It was an awesome time of pain and endurance and pain...and pain...As we were climbing the mountain i noticed these small coloured ribbons attached to the trees along the path..As i later found out these ribbons represented the best and safest path to the summit of the mountain..They were a symbol of those who had gone before us and made a way...

The night passed and we saw a beautiful sunrise and decided to make our way down..Why should i folow the ribbons...that wouldn't be much of an adventure now would it??? 2 and a half HOURS later we vowed never to have another "adventure" as we kissed level ground and i subsequently lost all navigating privilleges...

This got me thinking about communion....Suddenly it all became personal to me...As i shared on Sunday at church i began to understand what Jesus meant when he said "do this in rememberence of me"...

Hebrews says this in chapter 2:14-18 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil-- [15] and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. [16] For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants. [17] For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. [18] Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. [NIV]

What i see in this passage is that Jesus was made like us in every way...We are talking about the creator of the universe here, the God who spoke and his very word created the heavens and the earth, the same God who holds the world in the palm of his hands, the alpha and omega...became like me...and as i began to meditate on these ribbons i understood...Jesus became like me to make a way for me.....Jesus like those climbers who went before showed me the best way that i can live my life...he showed me that it is possible...

Now as i take communion i remember that he made a way for me when he died upon the cross...i remember that he went before me...i remember he is here with me...and now as i partake in communion i understand and i remember...


God Bless!!!