Reformation Lutheran Church A Congregation of the ELCA

March 8, 2018

As the Grains of Wheat

Refrain: As the grains of wheat once scattered on the hill
were gathered into one to become our bread,
so may all your people from all the ends of earth be gathered into one in you.

As this cup of blessing is shared within our midst,
may we share the presence of your love. (Refrain)

Let this be a foretaste of all that is to come when
all creation shares this feast with you. (Refrain)

Text: Marty Haugen.b. 1950

I first heard this hymn in 1990 when the hymnal “With One Voice” reached the Lutheran church I was attending.

Lutherans celebrate Holy Communion regularly. In fact, I cannot think of a worship service I’ve attended in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America when we didn’t celebrate Holy Communion. This is why I was touched by the wonderful analogy of the grains of wheat that come together to become one bread and of all the Christians who profess Jesus Christ celebrating Holy Communion. The message is very powerful in this context when you think about all those grains of wheat coming together just as all Christians come together to become one family in Christ.

To be truly Christian we must be inclusive and tolerant of those who may not believe exactly as we do. Truly the Christian is instructed to love his neighbor as himself. Jesus gives examples of how to love our neighbors by acknowledging their existence and caring for their needs while respecting their individualism.

Martin Luther explains that the body and blood of Christ are present in, with, and under the bread we eat and the wine we drink, both of which are gifts to us from our Lord Jesus Christ. It is known as consubstantiation (and the issue of how Christ is present in communion remains an issue in our ecumenical relationships). Therefore, when we celebrate Holy Communion Jesus is, in essence, there with us. This may be impossible to understand. Even the relationships between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are not comprehensible to the human mind. There is something very reverent in approaching the altar and taking the bread and wine in celebration for the forgiveness of our sins.

It is truly special during this Lenten season to remember the gift that Jesus gave us through his life, death, and resurrection and through his continued presence in our lives today. Through Jesus we are bound to all Christians throughout the world.

Father in heaven we give thanks for your continued love and the blessing we receive in celebration of the Lord’s Supper.

Richard McDiffett



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