And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 

“This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

Luke 22:19

I had a conversation with a woman today who has had torn rotary cuffs for years. I should say, I attempted to have a conversation with her. All I actually did was listen. She went into her narrative and I wasn’t given an opportunity to say anything. All my efforts were ignored as she continued on with her story. This is an observation not a judgment, please do not hear me wrong. I wanted to share with her how God healed me of rotary cuff damage requiring surgery and ask her if I could pray for her but I never got a chance.

I left grieved in my spirit. Not because I needed to be heard but because of the tremendous price Jesus paid for her healing and maybe she has never tied communion and Jesus’s death on the cross to healing for her body. I went to church for years before ever hearing that connection.

Jesus said to do this – communion in remembrance of Him. The breaking of the bread representing his body and the drinking of the wine or juice representing the blood He shed for us. A life given for the forgiveness of our sins but also for so much more. For the disciples remembering Jesus would include reflecting on the numerous, countless times He stretched out His hand to heal, or spoke a word and brought life to the dead. They would remember the times He delivered people from demonic oppression and fed thousands with just a loaf of bread and a couple of fish. They would remember how he lifted up the marginalized and welcomed children into His open arms.

Unlike the disciples, we don’t get the memory of those events that proved His love, His compassion, His power and forgiveness, but we have the Bible to tell us of those events. Communion is a time of remembering His shed blood, His broken body and the love that was willing to make that sacrifice.

It grieves my heart when I see people hurting – be it physically, emotionally or spiritually because I fully believe in the God that sent Jesus to the cross to be our Healer.

I am not saying we won’t have pain, we won’t get sick or broken emotionally. I am hoping though that by remembering the incredible price Jesus paid to fill up what was lacking in us, we will change the narrative about our pain and allow room for Jesus to change our story.

I would love to hear from you. Please let me know if I can be praying for you as well.

pic credit: newjoy.org

pic credit: biblestudytools.org