When we gather around the Lord’s Table, in faith we sit at the timeless table of God’s presence. This table extends back to the Passover table where Christ lifted the bread and wine and made a new covenant. It even extends back to the Garden where we communed with God in perfect harmony. The table we gather around also extends forward, in this timeless moment, to the great wedding banquet in the resurrection when the Lamb and bride are united (Revelation 19:6-9). At this table, every sanctified table from the beginning to the end, and all who have gone before us and come after us join us in this table of celebration.
This table breaks down dividing walls between people groups and makes us one new humanity and citizens of the Kingdom of God. This table is where our gifts are given back to God to be sanctified for the nourishment of the church and the reconciliation of the world. It is at this table that we receive the presence of Christ to then take his presence with us to be host at our tables and guest of his presence at the tables of the world.
God manifested his presence in a cloud, pillar of fire, in a burning bush, and in so many other ways throughout scripture. He then chooses to manifest his presence in the bread and wine at the table. The receiving of the Holy Spirit at our baptism is God’s presence being made known in us. Being attentive to God’s presence in us we become host of God’s presence at our tables for our neighbors to come and experience. Our tables are sanctified to be the space where the world encounters God. We do this through committing to being homes of love, joy, peace, and the other fruit of the Spirit in increasing measure. Our homes become the place where people find rest in a world of disarray. We don’t preach sermons to them. We invited them into a different reality, a realty where Jesus Christ is Lord, we’ve seen God’s intent for the world, and live into that reality.
In the same aim of Jesus’s ministry, we carry Christ’s presence to the tables around us where we are guests. We enter these spaces with an awareness that God is already at work and seek to join him in those space. Where do you see community happening in the spaces around you? I see community developing in the local breweries, the run clubs, at the local gyms, etc. How do we enter these spaces in a way that sanctifies them as holy spaces where people will experience the presence of God? I believe to answer this question, we must be willing to be led and be open to what God might do if we open ourselves to be attentive to what he is doing.
In David Fitch’s book, “Faithful Presence,” he shares a story where he and a friend are walking through town and he proclaimed, “These people are sharing the Lord’s Supper, they just don’t know it yet.” They developed the practice of praying a prayer for God’s presence to be made known before entering spaces where they would be guests.
At some point this week before entering a community space, pray this prayer: Lord, make me aware of what you are doing in the lives of the people I encounter in this space. Make me attentive to the needs of each person I meet as though I am attentive to Jesus himself. Help me to leave that person more at peace, filled with joy, and/or more in touch with the love of God. Lord, come quickly and make your presence known. Amen.
At the end of your day, answer these questions:
Where did I feel the Holy Spirit tugging at me to act?
Was I hesitant? Why?
How would that situation have gone differently if I had slowed down to be attentive to God’s presence?
Pray that you’ll be more aware and attentive tomorrow.