Cherishing the sacrament
by Maria Rudolph
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them (John 6:56).
Read John 6:52–66
I didn’t grow up a Christian. As an 18-year-old, I attended my first-ever church service at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Adelaide. I had never experienced anything like it before. Deeply moved by the words and songs, I shed many tears that day. When it came to the part of the service where people lined up for holy communion, I watched in awe. What were they receiving at the front? And why?
As I came to faith in Jesus and was baptised, holy communion became central to my faith. Now, as a pastor of the church, word and sacrament are the core of the office I hold. I have seen countless times what a powerful encounter with God it is for people to receive the sacrament on their deathbed, in hospital when they are sick or at home when they are too frail to attend church.
Jesus not only instituted holy communion at the Last Supper (read Matthew 26:26–28; Luke 22:19,20 and 1 Corinthians 11:23–26), but he clearly invites his followers to partake (John 6:53): ‘Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.’ As much as we need to feed on the word of God, we also need to be nourished through the sacrament of holy communion.
This was uncomfortable for some of Jesus’ followers, and many turned away from him. ‘You do not want to leave me, too, do you?’ Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life’ (John 6:67,68). We know that even these closest followers of the Lord ended up abandoning him in his greatest hour of need in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:56). But Jesus never abandons us. Even when we turn our backs on him, he waits for our return. We can always return to the Lord’s table in repentance, receiving God’s forgiveness there.
Forgiving God, you have sent your only Son into this world to die for all our sins, so that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Thank you for being the nourishing Bread of Life for us. Feed and strengthen us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Pastor Maria serves at St John’s Lutheran Church in Perth, Western Australia. She is blessed with her pastor husband, Michael, who serves at Concordia Lutheran Church, Duncraig. With God’s help, they navigate ministry across two parishes and life at home with two beautiful high schoolers and one amazing boy in primary school. Pastor Maria also serves the Lutheran Church on the Commission on Theology and Inter-Church Relations.
- Click here to read previous devotions.
- We are also posting them on LCA Facebook, making it easy for you to share them with family and friends.
- Sign up to receive Daily Devotion in your inbox every morning. If you’re already doing that, please encourage others to sign up. Click here for the link.
