Monday, August 6, 2012

The Family Table

Bread and Wine
 courtesy photobucket.com

John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

Today I glean from the notes I took from Pastor Jerry’s sermon.   Pastor was reading from John 6 regarding the people seeking Jesus after he had fed the 5000.   Jesus told them that they were not seeking him because they saw the miracles, but because they did eat of the loaves, and were filled. 

Without labor or money, they desired to receive bread as did the children of Israel who gathered their manna each morning.   His reply to them was 33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and gives life unto the world. 

Pastor began to tell us about churches where he has served as a minister and at each church the Holy Communion table was always open communion.  All who had accepted Jesus as Savior were invited to the table.  He likened the communion as to the family table.

At the family table, our children are taught good manners and to say please and thank you and to respect one another.  Families who share their meals together and have pleasant conversations at the table learn their family history, have higher self esteem and are better citizens.  

Pastor asked, “Was your home a ‘leave it to Beaver home?’ Or was it dysfunctional?” Today our families go in all direction, grabbing some take out, or fast food as they rush to soccer practice or some other busy event.

Just a few years ago there was no Face Book, twitter, or all this texting on the telephone.   It is possible for family members to be missing even while sitting next to one another.

Let us draw strength from our family and be reconciled to seek peace, forgiveness and to live in harmony.

As we partake of the Eutichrist we thank God for the bread and the cup representing His body and his blood.  We humans can twist and turn the mystery of the meaning of the last supper but instead or arguing about speculations may we come in simple faith to receive and not in mindless rote.

May we let the hot air out of our pride as we understand that the table is open to all, even the poor and downtrodden?  Are we ready to welcome others at the table?

Let us come to the table with clean hands and washed face giving thanks and prepared to receive Christ who is the bread from heaven.

This post is Linked up today with Michelle’s Hear it on Sunday Use it on Monday

Be sure to check out the great posts you will discover there.

3 comments:

Wendy @ E-1-A said...

This post also reminds me of the quote which says: "Families who pray together, stay together!"

Our home has a kitchen table which we all eat around. One of my non Christian friends found it unusual that we eat around the table together at mealtimes. She was expecting to go through to the lounge. I explained that we didn't have a table in the lounge or else it would be no problem to do so if that is what she wished to do. She found the concept of eating together around a table strange and unecessary. I explained the benefits we gained as a family from eating our meals together in one place. Not sure she adopted eating meals in one place in her own home but that wasn't the purpose of inviting her for lunch anyway.

joy said...

You are right. Nowadays, one can be present but not present.can you believe that here at home, sometimes we send tx to one another? I sometimes use it to avoid arguing to my daughter:)

Diane Ronzino said...

Awesome words and message, Hazel!