When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. (Luke 24: 30-31)

Give us this day our daily bread… (Matthew 6:11)

I often listen to people tell me why they don’t attend church on Sunday mornings. Once people know that I’m a pastor, they must feel the need to explain.

These are some of the things I’ve heard; “I feel God’s presence with me the most when I am in the woods, close to nature.” “I don’t believe in organized religion.” “I worship at the altar of baseball.” (Seriously, that was one of them!)

In their book, Lord Teach Us: The Lord’s Prayer & the Christian Life, William Willimon and Stanley Hauerwas write “When we want to meet God, we Christians do not go up some high mountain, do not rummage around in our psyches, do not hold hands, close our eyes, and sing Kum Ba Yah in the hope of revelation. We gather and break bread in Jesus’ name. That’s where he has chosen to meet us, that’s where our eyes are opened and we recognize him.” (French p 80)

We gather together, as the body of Christ, never alone, for the sacrament. “Continuous communion of the whole congregation, with the post-communion blessing given after all are communed, underscores the aspects of fellowship and unity in the sacrament.” (The Use of the Means of Grace, p 49)

In the sacrament of bread and wine, Holy Communion, Christ is truly present with us. He has given himself, for us, and we receive this gift each time we gather for the celebration of the Eucharist.

“The use of leavened bread is the most ancient attested practice of the church and gives witness to the connection between the Eucharist and ordinary life.” (The Use of the Means of Grace, p 48)

And so together we thankfully pray, give us this day our daily bread.

Prayer for today

Ever present God, help us to remember that we see you and we feel your presence with us especially in the breaking of the bread. Amen.