Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, "Surely you don't mean me, Rabbi?"
Jesus answered, "You have said so."
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body."
Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom." - Matthew 26:25-29
Today is known as Maundy Thursday, a day when Christians remember a banquet in an upper room held in Jerusalem more than 2,000 years ago. Jesus hosted his disciples to a meal, immediately before his arrest and subsequent crucifixion. It was on that occasion that Christ instituted the Sacrament of the Altar, the Holy Eucharist, the Last Supper, and Holy Communion.
Through the Sacrament of the Altar, God helps us sense that we have been forgiven. Some Christians express an unwillingness to come to the Lord's table because they have committed a sin that they feel makes them unworthy to partake. I have had conversations with people who think this way.
The Lord's Supper is especially for sinners. We are all sinners who have fallen short of the glory of God.
At the first Eucharist, Judas Iscariot was present. He was not prevented from partaking. Prior to sharing the meal with Jesus and the other disciples, Judas had gone to the chief priest to betray Jesus to them.
Jesus knew of the evil, which lurked in his heart. Yet he invited Judas to participate. Jesus shared this meal with him, as he would with you and with me. Yes, he accepts us at his altar even though we are not worthy.
The times when we feel unworthy are precisely the times when we need communion. We don't make ourselves worthy to partake in communion. God does that.
Wouldn't we think it silly if someone said, "I feel sick. I have a fever. However, I don't want to bother my doctor with my problems. Therefore, I will go to see him when I get well."
God wants you to bother him. Your worthiness to receive the sacrament is God's gift of grace to you. In fact, only sinners are allowed to partake. All of us who stand before the communion rail are sinners seeking God's grace and forgiveness.
That is something to celebrate. The very foundation of our feeling worthy is that malady from which Christ seeks to deliver us in communion.
The fellowship we experience in Holy Communion is based not on our personal friendship or shared likes and dislikes, but on our baptism into the death and resurrection of Christ. Our baptism is similar to being born into a family.
We can't choose who our family will be. Our family members are ours for life. We may reject a family member, but that does not mean that we are not related to that person. We must accept all members as family whether we like it or not. We may not like them, but they are still family.
The Lord's Supper reminds us that in Christ, we are united with God and with each other in one family. Not only that, but Christ also gives himself in the meal to his people for the forgiveness of their sins. Amen.
• Reverend Samuel M. Boodle, pastor at the Lutheran Church of Nassau, 119 John F. Kennedy Dr can be reached at P.O. Box N 4794, Nassau, Bahamas; or telephone 426-9084; website: www.nassaulutheranchurch.org.
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