I am developing a morning ritual. On work days I am in such a rut that the people at Panara sometimes have my order ready and on the counter before I get through the door. I always get a section of baguette and a small coffee. I can count the calories and it satisfies me through the first part of the morning. I then spend some time in Bible study and I am ready to go to work.
I have a hard time with just praying over meals. It becomes so mechanical. It doesn’t always reflect my real sense of gratitude to God. One day when I picked up my chunk of bread and began to break it apart I saw the hands of the elders breaking the bread for communion. I said to myself, “If this is an action from the last supper, why not make it a part of the Daily Breakfast?”
I have begun to begin each morning by tearing off a small section of bread and reminding myself of the words of Jesus.
(Luke 22:19 KJV) And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.Breaking the bread brings to mind why I am thankful and what I am most thankful for. I also pause over the cup.
This may also become an empty ritual that becomes mechanical. When that happens I will find a fresh way to remind myself of the daily grace I need and receive.
Catholics could do it in the Protestant sense of a memorial without taking away from the sacrament of the Eucharist. Protestants could take it with the Catholic thought that God would use it to extend some grace for the day without surrendering the belief that it is symbolic.
If it doesn’t make you a heretic, feel free to join me.
homo unius libri
I've often wondered if I corinthians 11:26 doesn't have a double meaning. Not just for communion, but for EACH TIME we eat and drink. Preachers, of course, think that's silly, but then, I think a lot of preachers are silly, too.
ReplyDeleteKeep in mind that in many denominations it would be considered almost blasphemy for the non-ordained to administer the sacraments. Also you need to factor in the ego of a lot of pastors. When i was pastoring I used to say there were only two things reserved for me. Only I could perform marriages because of state law and only I could preach because I was too jealous of the few chances I got. Other than that I was willing to share.
DeleteGrace and peace.