Wednesday, October 3

Today's Readings: Psalm 144 & 77; Joel 2:12-19; Luke 14:12-24; Romans 2:25-26

Since this Sunday will be observed as World Communion Sunday, I’ve spent a lot of time this week thinking about the role Communion plays in our lives. Last night’s community discussion at Sacred Grounds, in fact, focused on this topic as well. Needless to say, I was thrilled to see this morning’s passage from Joel remind us of two essential ingredients of the sort of spiritual experience we have when we come to the Communion Table. The first ingredient of such a spiritual experience comes from verses 12-13. These verses speak of the individual and his or her call to “return to me with all your heart”. Again, the common prophetic theme is stressed that preference is given not to empty rituals (simply going through the motions) but rather the condition of one’s heart (“rend your hearts and not your clothing”). This is the same theme from today's reading from Roman's regarding circumsion. The second ingredient is the community’s role (i.e. “call a solemn assembly; gather the people; sanctify the congregation; assemble the aged; etc). In this day and age where it seems the role of the individual is exalted above all else, today’s passage reminds us of the important role community plays in this process of “returning to me”. In these days leading up to World Communion Sunday, I invite you to spend some time looking at the balance between the individual and communal role in your spiritual life. With a proper sense of balance between the two, may each of us be strengthened in these days of return. Til next time…