Starving for Jesus - July 18
Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 30, 32; PM Psalm 42, 43; Joshua 6:1-14; Rom. 13:1-7; Matt. 26:26-35
My first thought when I read today’s gospel passage where we hear the words of institution by Jesus at the Last Supper was “Oh! How I have missed hearing these words in church at the Service of the Table for communion!” And my next thought was about Peter and how deeply I connect with his longing to do the right thing, yet his inability to follow through. That’s me. That’s all of us. I sat with this gospel passage to let it settle in with me prayerfully and then it struck me. We are starving for Jesus.
Who knew the last communion we would experience together in person would have been four months ago? We still have spiritual communion and are connected through Christ, even though we are missing all that we share through face-to-face connection. And I’m here to tell you, the Church is still open, regardless of the doors being closed and despite the enormous challenges. We’re being fed in ways that might be different, but these new ways are nourishing, nonetheless.
In some weird sense, you could say we started a new diet by fasting. We’ve cut out everything as we know it and added back only the essential nutrients of worship and discipleship.
We are feasting on the Word now more than ever in our practice of praying the Daily Office. The daily engagement of scripture and prayer is my bread of life right now. I am surprised how fulfilling digital ministry has been for me, and my sense for so many of you who continue staying connected. It provides a crucial connection point with Jesus and our community.
An important component of the Daily Office is the Confession of Sin. Like Peter, we turn our backs on Jesus and often come up short. We fall short with our family, friends, neighbors, and even strangers. Confession and reconciliation restore us to Christ and each other, and give us sustenance.
As we are fed, we share what we have with others. At my seminary, our Cross is outside the chapel as a reminder that Christ is out in the world among the hungry, and we are called to get out of the church building to feed God’s people. I think St. Stephen’s is doing a darn good job of being the Church out in the world, nurturing the needs of our own members, as well as the ongoing needs of the vulnerable and marginalized.
Like you, I am craving the time when we can share the meal of communion as a community gathered together. Trust me, the clergy and staff are brilliantly creative in their efforts to make this a new possibility. It will be different, and we don’t know when that day will come, but it will be the sweetest communion you’ve ever shared. In the meantime, they are cooking up some new ways to connect so that St. Stephen’s can be and do Church in ways that satisfy our deep hunger and bring us communion with Jesus and each other wherever we are.
-- Susan Oakes, Seminarian
Susan Oakes is a rising senior at the Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas. This summer, she is serving as a seminarian intern at Saint Stephen's, her sponsoring parish for ordination.
Questions for Self Reflection: In what surprising ways are you being fed? What are you hungry for lately?
Daily Challenge: Give special attention to the Confession of Sin and The General Thanksgiving found in the Book of Common Prayer under Morning Prayer.