Lent: Day 11

“And he took bread, and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’” – Luke 22:19

“Welcome one another, therefore, as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” – Romans 15:7

When our oldest child was around six years old, she asked us when she would be able to take communion. As it goes with your oldest child, every new parental step seems to present itself as a momentous decision. We delayed answering our daughter while we dutifully conducted research about the “right” time for a Methodist child to take first communion. We read church materials. We talked with pastors. We debated and discussed.

During yet another family discussion on the subject, our persistent daughter piped up: “But Mom and Dad, the pastors say that all are welcome and the table is open to all. I’m a part of ‘all’!”

Yes, she is a part of “all.” We are all a part of “all.” And our loving God welcomes and invites all of us to God’s table, without a minimum age or any other litmus test.

God reprised this gentle lesson when the pastors asked us to help serve communion. Watching “all” come to partake of God’s table was a moving experience. Here came an elder pillar of the congregation, here came a young parent who had only two hours of sleep, here came an alcoholic, a teen questioning the existence of God, a person contemplating divorce, a person struggling with depression, a person who dozed off during the sermon, a person wrestling with whether or not to come out of the closet, a Sunday school teacher, a cancer patient... and a six year old girl.

“All” were welcomed to the table. “All” were and are invited to know God through Jesus in the breaking and sharing of the communion bread. Praise God for God’s welcome and unconditional love for us “all!”

Prayer: Lord, thank you for Your unconditional love and welcome. Thank you for communion, the act that reminds us of Your love and bind us all together in the body of Christ. Please help us to extend Your love and welcome to “all” today and every day. Amen.