Let the Church say AMEN!

Given the current state of our nation, in my daily meditations, I regularly remind myself that God is and always will be in control. I remember that the Word and the Sacraments lie at the heart of our worship and life. Our sacramental life is a gift from God, offered out of love for us. The Word of God is given to us so that we may know God more fully.

For Episcopalians, the two primary sacraments are Baptism and the Eucharist. Jesus, who loves us so deeply, gave us the sacraments so that we can experience His unending love in a deeply personal way. They are also provided so that we may share His love and recognize His love in one another. As baptized Christians, we are disciples of Christ, destined for holiness, spiritual beings, and ministers for our Lord Jesus. The Eucharist, when fully experienced, is the Lord’s love offering.

The use of "Amen" has generally been adopted in Christian worship as a concluding word for prayers and hymns, as well as an expression of strong agreement. I have found that many struggle or fail to utter our “Amens,” even when we are in agreement.

During worship, many partakers of the Eucharist do not say “Amen” when receiving the bread and the wine.

“The Body of Christ, the bread of heaven (Amen)”

“The Blood of Christ, the cup of salvation (Amen)”

or

“The Body (Blood) of our Lord Jesus Christ keep you in everlasting Life (Amen)”

I wonder if it is due to a lack of knowledge and/or understanding, or if there is a lack of agreement with your status as living members of our Lord and Savior’s sacrifice. Or are you not accepting of the new and unending life in Him? Do you not wish to serve Him in unity, constancy, and peace, until the last day when He brings all of His saints into the joy of His eternal kingdom?

We are commanded to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our mind. This is our mission in life: to know God in our heart by prayer; in our soul, as Mary says (Luke 1:46), our souls magnify the Lord (people see this through our deeds); and in our minds through learning. David Brown, a theologian and retired missioner, teaches that our mission in Jesus Christ is to learn the mind of Christ, to offer the prayer of Christ, and to do the deeds of Christ. In this way, we love the Lord with our whole being.

The Lord instructs us to love. Love is a verb; it requires action. To love is to perform the deeds of Christ.

The Word and the Sacraments are central to our worship and communal life as Christians.

I pray that Jesus reveals to each of us, in a very personal way, the true meaning of the Sacrament of the Eucharist.

I pray that we continue to grow in our Christian journey, listening in silence and meditating on God’s Holy Word.

I beseech You, O Lord, to bless us in our mission in Christ as we seek to understand Your will. Christ, offer the prayer of Christ, and perform the deeds of Christ.

Let the Church say AMEN!

Yours in Christ,

Deacon Valerie