Daily
reading: 1 Corinthians 11:17-34
Wednesday,
August 30, 2017
The
center of Paul’s argument against social stratification in worship is the
remembrance of Christ’s last meal with his disciples. Paul begins with these words, “on the night
when Jesus was betrayed.” Now there was
a LOT that happened on that night …yes?
On the night Jesus washed the feet of his disciples …
On the night Jesus celebrated the Passover meal …
On the night Jesus prayed in the Garden …
On the night Jesus was arrested …
On the night the disciples scattered …
On the night Peter denied knowing Jesus …
But the oral tradition that had been passed down to
Paul is grounded first and foremost in the broken relationship of Jesus and
Judas. On the night Jesus was betrayed.
The oral tradition that had been handed down to Paul
speaks of a new covenant; and this is important. While we hear this language weekly in our
celebration of Communion, it was not frequent language in their canon of
scripture. It comes from the prophet
Jeremiah. In chapter 31, verse 31 we
read, “The time is coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant
with the people of Israel and Judah. It
won’t be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the
hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt.
They broke that covenant with me even though I was their husband,
declares the LORD. No, this is the
covenant that I will make with the people of Israel after that time, declares
the LORD. I will put my instructions
within them and engrave them on their hearts.
I will be there God, and they will be my people. They will no longer need to teach each other
and say, ‘Know the LORD!’ because they will all know me, from the least of them
to the greatest, declares the LORD; for I will forgive their wrongdoing and
never again remember their sins.”
This new covenant is born out of brokenness and
betrayal and is a reminder that God is gracious and forgives our wrongdoing and
does not remember our sins. Communion is
a radical act of graciousness grounded in the reality that we are broken and
hurt one another, yet God loves us unconditionally!
Prayer: God, help me to be mindful of your presence in
my life: help me to see your presence in everyone I encounter today. May my words and actions embody your radical
welcome and love for Your creation.
Amen.