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Today's Lenten Devotion |
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The Bread Connection
For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
-- 1 Corinthians 11:23-24
Early last Saturday, I dropped something off at church. As I came out, several people were coming in, all in a cheerful mood. They smiled and said hello, while I wondered who they could be. Brushing past a woman on the way back out, she dropped a book and I noticed it said something about a twelve-step program. I have always been a little slow on the uptake and only now realized that this was an AA meeting. As I drove away that beautiful sunny morning, I thought how sad it seemed. But then I understood they were glad to spend this morning together. They were driving out the craving that had ravaged their lives and they were becoming something better.
Someone I know, lets call him Joe, is an alcoholic. A talented, intelligent man in his early 70s, he has fallen off the wagon many times. After Christmas, he went on a bender until he was drinking glass cleaner and Heaven knows what else. He refused treatment and is now estranged from his wife. His son helped him move out, but can’t get him to accept the help he needs. I fully expect to see him next at his wake.
Yet, I don’t know. I have hope. Joe has come around many times before. Although I hear the winter winds blow and swirl around my home, I know spring will come. Although I feel crushed beneath the burden of the sin I am carrying, He will release my burden. When we hear that He took Bread and said, ”This is my Body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me”; we know that we can be saved.
With His sacrifice our sins were paid for. Through the Bread we are connected to that sacrifice and to Him. You and I, the AA folks on Saturday morning, the people in church on Ash Wednesday, and, maybe, even old Joe become one Body across the whole world, across all of time from the very beginning to the very end. Turned away from Darkness forever and turned towards the Light that has called to us every moment of our lives.
O Jesus, Build up our Faith this Lent. While we realize our sins are beyond counting, wash them away. Do not turn your face away from your people. Our hearts are broken in this Sin soaked world, but we know you can heal them. Let us eat the bread and drink the cup until you return. Remember Joe and all our brothers and sisters, who wander through this world in darkness, alone. Call to them so that they may come into your Light and be saved. Amen
Dennis Blazak
Joyjoywrld57@msn.com
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