The Cross and Communion

 The Cross and Communion Meditation:  Matthew 16:21-28

     Sun and the rain.  Both are needed .  Without either , there is no growth.  But with the sun, the ground yields fruit.  Storms produce fruit as well, and the water is necessary for growth.  This is so true in the Christian life.  Today's Gospel lesson reminds us of the need for difficulties and trials.  Many of us are like Peter,  “God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.”  

     I have a little backyard that one day for some reason I put a chair out there from the front porch set.  And I left it there.  Perhaps I was too lazy to move it back to the front porch, but for some reason it is a nice place to just sit and look.  We are so busy we forget to hear, listen and look at what is going on in our lives.  Silence can be golden in terms of growth.  There are no commercials out there in the back chair.  Self-examination is necessary in our taking of Holy Communion.  Our whole lives for some of us can be boiled down to this quote I saw, "  Addiction is giving up everything for one thing; Recovery is giving up one thing for everything."

     We heard from Moses today.He learned God , " I am who I am" was sending him to a mission to the people who needed him.  " I will be with you" was his encouragement.  No, Moses was not perfect, but God used him to lead the people out of capitivity into a new land.

     We too must die to ourselves to " discover our true selves; For , unless the true self is discovered, and a man ceases to be self-centered and becomes God-centered, he may gain possession of the whole world, but will remain in all essentials a beggar without any hope of reward when the final day of reckoning comes and the Son of Man returns in glory."   R.V.G. Tasker, " The Gospel According to St. Matthew"

     “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?"   What can we give in exchange for our soul?  

       Here is the a quote from a lady who was Jewish and was converted, " And every Sunday, I stand and celebrate in worship surrounded by a large family not related to me biologically but nonetheless powerfully connected to me through the blood of one Jewish man who lived and died so long ago, and rose again in a spectacular show of mercy that breaks every curse." By Nadya Williams

   We might take some words from the Romans reading today to finish our meditation .  "  Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all."

   Where is your chair to sit, reflect and grow?  On this Sunday of Holy Communion reflecting on the Death and Resurrection of our Lord, we remember and commune with Him spiritually in the Sacrament of His Body and Blood for us.