Pass It On
A reading for Thursday, February 4, 2016: Matthew 26:26-30.
We talk a lot about hospitality in the church of God's people. We offer to others the hospitality of our houses, our fellowship and our church. Hospitality is one of our highest ethics. Rightly so. When someone we know is in need, we offer them our hospitality.
Truth is, hospitality does not come from us. It's not ours. The Lord's Supper is the image of its origin. "Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples." Hospitality is not in our control to give or withhold. It does not belong to us. It is given to us by God through the grace of Jesus Christ. Therefore, we simply pass it along to those we come across.
The challenge for us is to receive hospitality from Jesus early and often enough to make it a part of our lives. The challenge is to receive hospitality from other Christians, and even others who do not share our faith. The challenge is to engage with our culture in a way in which we don't control hospitality, but simply receive it and pass it on.
"Take, eat; this is my body." Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."
We talk a lot about hospitality in the church of God's people. We offer to others the hospitality of our houses, our fellowship and our church. Hospitality is one of our highest ethics. Rightly so. When someone we know is in need, we offer them our hospitality.
Truth is, hospitality does not come from us. It's not ours. The Lord's Supper is the image of its origin. "Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples." Hospitality is not in our control to give or withhold. It does not belong to us. It is given to us by God through the grace of Jesus Christ. Therefore, we simply pass it along to those we come across.
The challenge for us is to receive hospitality from Jesus early and often enough to make it a part of our lives. The challenge is to receive hospitality from other Christians, and even others who do not share our faith. The challenge is to engage with our culture in a way in which we don't control hospitality, but simply receive it and pass it on.
"Take, eat; this is my body." Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."
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