Christmas Communion

Recently I got to help with possibly my favorite pastoral responsibilities....Communion.  Wether you call it Eucharist or Communion and wether you believe the bread and juice represent the actual Body and Blood of Jesus or if they are symbols, being part of this sacrament has profound implications for who we are as Christians.  No matter what your denomination, all of us who believe in Jesus believe that when we come to the table, Jesus meets us there.
Almost every time I help serve Communion I experience something new.  I remember one time when a student made me laugh out loud because he dipped this bread in the juice more like a Tostito's chip into a bowl of salsa than a chalice.  It made me laugh but I am reminded that the last supper was probably filled with serious moments like Jesus washing the disciple's feet as well as moments of laughter.  I don't know about you, but when I get together with 12 of my closest friends there is bound to laughter that shakes the windows as well as deeply personal and serious moments.
But this Sunday I watched people's hands as they took a piece of bread and dipped it in the juice.  Some people had well manicured nails while others had grease under them from working on machinery all week.  Some had hands crippled by arthritis while others had a newborn baby in their hands.  Wrinkly hands, young hands, hands of all different colors, hands with spots, hands with scars, strong hands, feeble hands, hands that fix, hands that nurture, and hands that heal.  All these different hands were reaching into the basket and trying to grasp a small piece of God's grace.  I contemplated how incredible and profound it is to think that Jesus came for each and every person in this world.  He came for the people who are young and old, scarred, tired, broken, and dirty.  And what an amazing mystery that at Christmas time when we celebrate that Jesus is Emanuel (God with us), that He really does meet us as we come to the table.
So to all of you out there who have taken part of this Sacrament recently or for those of you who are coming to the table soon, may you know that whomever you are, wherever you've been, and whatever you've done, there is a place set for you...a feast prepared for you...this is the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ broken and shed for you. Take. Eat.  Amen.