Living with brokenness...

"Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the Lord, who has compassion on you.
~ Isaiah 54:10

One of the things that I encounter with communion is the reminder that Jesus knew a lot about brokenness and being broken.  When Jesus breaks the bread and blesses it, he tells those who are present, "This is my body, which is broken for you..."

I then remember the words that Jesus shared with the disciples as I lift the cup, "This is my blood which is poured out for you. A new covenant I make with each of for the remission of sin. Take and drink..."

I then remind all those present with these words, "For as often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we remember Christ's brokenness for us. His death. His resurrection, and that one day we ALL shall see him. Face to face. These are the gifts of God, for the people of God..."

Brokenness.

Jesus was broken on the cross. He lived his suffering and death not as an evil to avoid at all costs, but as a mission to embrace.  We too are broken. We live with broken bodies, broken hearts, broken minds or broken spirits.

How can we live our brokenness?

Christ invites us to embrace our brokenness as he embraced the cross and live it as part of our mission. Christ asks us not to reject our brokenness as a punishment from God that reminds us of the times when poor choices or bad judgement has created distance between us and the Creator, but to accept it and put it under God's blessing to allow for grace and forgiveness.

Two of the things our broken world needs most at this point. The brokenness that we witness and experience is truly the gateway for a new life and a much stronger and loving society.

Stay in Gods' grip!

G. Todd Williams (c) 2019