02/07/2024 0 Comments
‘He was made known to them in the breaking of the bread’
‘He was made known to them in the breaking of the bread’
# Reflections
‘He was made known to them in the breaking of the bread’
Opening Prayers
I am the bread of life,
anyone who comes to me shall not hunger,
anyone who believes in me shall never thirst.
Alleluia. Lord, give us this bread always.
The bread of God comes down from heaven,
and gives life to the world.
Alleluia. Lord, give us this bread always.
Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life
And I will raise him up on the last day.
Alleluia. Lord, give us this bread always.
It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is of no avail.
the words I speak, they are spirit and they are life.
Alleluia. Lord, give us this bread always.
Walk with us, Lord,
Along the road of resurrection!
Explain for us, so slow to believe,
the things that scripture says of you.
Break the bread of the Eucharist with us
whenever we share our lives with all brothers and sisters.
Stay with us each time night approaches
and the daylight fades in our hearts.
Amen.
Think about your experiences of an encounter that transformed you. If it was with another person, think about what happened and why this was so transformative.
Angela Tilby reflects on how the Eucharist transforms our lives. ‘All Christian worship is potentially an encounter with the risen Lord. when we beat him in worship, God calls as into a future that is already his and we offer ourselves to be transformed. the Eucharist perhaps more than any other form of Christian worship, makes this transformation vivid and real. This is because it brings us directly into Christ’s presence, not only through scripture, but by a special kind of remembering that makes his Easter victory present to us. the bread and wine, ordinary food and drink, become charged with the memory of Christ’s death and resurrection. For some Christians this is focused in the bread and wine itself. the consecrated bread and wine all lifted up so that people can see that ‘The Lord is here’. for others the bread and wine act as reminders that point to the Lords spiritual presence with his people. this presence of Jesus in Holy Communion Is cooled a sacrament. a sacrament is an ‘Outward and visible sign Of an inward and spiritual grace.’ how this happens has been disputed by Christians over the centuries and has, sadly, lead to some divisions between different branches of the Christian Church.
This explains the various ways the Eucharist is celebrated, and the different importance that different Christians give to it and even the fact that we have more than one name for the service. but all Christians of whatever tradition All united around this truth: The Lord who died on the cross for us opens his arms and longs to feed us with his risen life. Jesus is the one ‘in whom all our hungers are satisfied.’ It is this story of his transforming love that we celebrate in Holy Communion and in all our worship.’
Consider how you are aware of Christ’s risen presence when you worship, also think about what sort of worship makes your heart burn within you. The Eucharist transforms us into people who are called to share our bread with the hungry and bring hope to the world. In the Eucharist we are always being made new.
Over the next week contemplate how worship forms your life and shapes who you are. Ask yourself how God might be taking, blessing, breaking and using you in his service. Reflect on how God is transforming you and how God wants to increase this transformation within you so that your life mirrors the offering of Christ.
Concluding Prayers
The Cup of blessing that we bless,
is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ?
The bread that we break,
is it not a sharing in the body of Christ?
Because there is one bread,
we who are many are one body
for we all partake of the one bread.
Merciful God
You have called us to your table
Generous God
You have fed us with the bread of life
Abundant God
Draw us and all people to the service of your Son;
And send us out to bring your peace and goodness to the world.
Amen.
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