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Eucharistic meditation, January 18:
Luke 15:23-24
As the church has always recognized, the Lord's Supper was instituted by Jesus Christ as a blessing to the people of God. In it, we memorialize Jesus' death, celebrate His victory over sin and Satan, and are refreshed in the power of the Spirit. It has always been seen that God is the principal actor in the Supper, and His work is the focus of our attention.
And yet, and yet. Jesus came eating and drinking, and the meals Jesus celebrated during His lifetime are permanently instituted in the Lord's Supper. And in this text, Jesus explains the purpose of the meals He's celebrating. As we might have expected, Jesus does not call attention to HIS presence at the meal. Rather, Jesus celebrates because of SINNERS who repent, joining in the celebration of the Father in heaven, who dances and rejoices before the angels.
Of course, this meal is in Jesus' honor. Of course. But Jesus is NOT the elder brother, who resents a feast celebrated for his younger brother. Jesus is the Father, who throws a banquet in honor of his brothers, His sons, who have been brought back from the dead. Are you a sinner? Have you been turned and turned to Jesus? Then come to this meal. Because this meal is in YOUR honor.
posted by Peter J. Leithart on Sunday, January 18, 2004 at 07:44 AM
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