Eat this bread, drink this cup

01May
Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, ‘Sir, we wish to see Jesus.’ Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honour.
-John 12:20-26


“Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” This request to the Apostle Philip from an unknown Greek seeker is engraved on a small brass plaque on the lectern of the pulpit at Trinity Church, Copley Square, in Boston. This magnificent church was designed by HH Richardson, the noted 19th century architect who was from St James Parish and began his education at Tulane. For over 150 years, this plaque has been seen by many of the great preachers of the Episcopal Church who have stood in Trinity’s pulpit to proclaim the good news of the gospel. The Greek seeker’s request succinctly summarizes the task of all faithful and effective preaching—to make Jesus visible for all those who come in search of him. 


Isn’t that why we are all here at this other Trinity, the one on Jackson Avenue in New Orleans? We too wish to see Jesus. And since 1847, that has been Trinity’s mission. But what does it mean to “see” Jesus? And where will we see him? One answer is found in that wonderful story of the two dusty travelers on the road to Emmaus that we read on the Third Sunday after Easter. They encounter a stranger whom they don’t recognize until he begins to teach them about the Scriptures and shares a meal with them.


When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:31-33)


Gathering as a community for Eucharist, as we hear the sacred stories along with a sermon that opens up the stories to enrich our daily lives, and as we share the sacred meal, we understand that we are experiencing the Real Presence of Jesus. That’s the theological term. Real Presence. While we may not “see” Jesus in the material, physical sense, we can surely see him with the “eyes of the heart,” in the words of St Benedict. And then we carry Jesus with us out into the world--the bread that he breaks, the wine that he pours--providing strength for the journey ahead. Like those travelers on the Road to Emmaus on that late Easter afternoon two thousand years ago, we have a companion walking along side us. We are not alone. 


Musical Reflection - Eat this bread, drink this cup - Communion song with Genny Ogala


O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

Eucharist

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