time a challenge. At its heart, it is about practicing as a regular spiritual engagement. It is in the inner stillness— letting everything go so that we moments of real availability and especially over may be present to God and God to us. It is not about time that God enters and we are more and more relaxation or self improvement. It is about occupying renewed in God’ s image. a space in which we can simply be. The pace of life I invite you to join other members of the St. and so many of our cultural imperatives run very James’ family who come together for Centering much counter to this( hence the challenge). This Prayer each week. � makes Centering Prayer all the more compelling
Let Us Break Bread Together
Nadia Gaya Parishioner
If you’ ve attended service at St. James’ around Easter, there’ s a good chance you’ ve heard the choir sing a beautiful rendition of the African American Spiritual, Let Us Break Bread Together. The first verse of this song, one of my favorites, begins with an entreaty: let us break bread together on our knees. Every time I hear this refrain, I hear Christ’ s call to us to share in his body and blood in the Eucharist.
Let us break bread … The image of breaking bread conjures up a cozy family dinner: steaming dishes have been brought to the table along with a warm, crusty loaf, pieces of which are torn off and used to mop up every delicious morsel. During the last supper, Jesus gave thanks then took bread and broke it, giving it to his disciples and telling them to eat, that it was his body( Matthew 26:26). Before we receive communion in church, the priest breaks the Eucharistic bread as a symbol that many can be fed by one. This also recalls the breaking of the bread in the story of Jesus feeding many thousands with a few loaves and fish. Just as that meal was a miracle, we experience the miracle of renewal in the Eucharistic meal that we share as one family in communion with Christ. Bread is broken as a reminder that Christ shares with us himself, his body and blood, so that we can be made new and
When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun, O Lord, have mercy on me. share new life in him.
Together … The Eucharist is a communal act, an act performed together. By receiving the Eucharist we perform an act of communion with the body of Christ while also performing this act in community. We approach the Eucharistic table as individuals but we also come together as a congregation and as a faithful people. In the Bible, Jesus broke bread with friends and strangers, with those dearest to his heart as well as with those who were considered the worst sinners. Most importantly, Jesus broke bread together. We are reminded every Sunday that whatever our difficulties and brokenness, that God has brought us together and God loves us, all of us. Jesus calls us to the table so that together as a community we are together with Him.
On our knees … If we are able, we process to the high altar and drop to our knees on a beautifully embroidered kneeler to wait in anticipation to receive the bread and the wine, the symbols of Christ’ s sacrifice for us. To receive communion kneeling is a physical sign that we are but humble penitents before God. From my childhood attending a Catholic church, I clearly remember the priest elevating the host and saying the words“ This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those who are called to his supper” and the congregation dutifully responding“ Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed.” We acknowledge that we are but sinners and not worthy but God calls us to the table nonetheless and through
12 · FALL 2018