Eucharist as Anticipation
- davidwperk
- Nov 12, 2024
- 6 min read
Devotional Reflection, Tuesday, November 12, 2024
Proper 27, the week of the twenty-secondSunday after Pentecost
The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.
Key phrases for reflection from today’s epistle reading:
‘Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. 7Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready; 8to her it has been granted to be clothed with fine linen, bright and pure’— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. 9And the angel said to me, ‘Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’
Daily Office Lectionary Readings: (BCP, 993)
AM Psalm 78:1-39; PM Psalm 78:40-72
Joel 1:15-2:2(3-11); Rev. 19:1-10; Luke 14:25-35
Today we celebrate the Feast of Charles Simeon. (See below.)
David’s Reflections
The Revelation offers several scenes of the end, dramatic images of God’s intervention to fulfill our salvation and usher in the fulfillment of new creation. This particular vision develops Isaiah’s image of our final salvation as a great feast (Isaiah 25:1-9), the marriage supper of the Lamb. Yesterday’s reading took us back to Jesus’ meal ministry with outcasts and to our inviting those without faith to come to Jesus by faith and share in the Eucharistic feast. This reading presents an image of that final meal that all our celebratory meals anticipate.
Each Sunday we celebrate Holy Eucharist, a sacred meal invoked by Jesus on his last night with the disciples and continued in the early church each Lord’s Day. We believe that Holy Eucharist anticipates the final banquet of salvation. In Holy Eucharist, we offer a prayer, the Great Thanksgiving, in which we give thanks for our salvation and call on Jesus to become present in bread and wine so that it becomes his body and blood. In the final banquet of salvation, we will see Jesus and he will host that celebratory meal. In that banquet the realities of our salvation, experienced in part in this life, especially at the Holy Table, we will experience fully.
Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb. Who IS invited? According to Jesus’ meal parables (see Luke 14 and 15), all are bidden. Ultimately, God intends to host everyone at this meal. Only the most obstinate and persistent resisters of God’s love will succeed in excluding themselves. The Revelation (and the New Testament in general) envisions that day as one of triumph in which God will succeed in regathering most, if not all, of God’s children and bringing us to that salvation banquet.
How do we walk in harmony with such a God? We do so by seeking to bring as many as possible to share in the sacred meal that anticipates that final banquet. How can we be at peace so long as one adult, one youth, one child in our community lives without a vital connection to the living God through Christ? God does not rest. God’s love consistently pulls, persuades, invites, draws. To walk in harmony with that God means we do the same. How reminiscent of yesterday’s parable and of Jesus’ eating with outcasts.
Henri Nouwen put it so well. “In the Eucharist we are asked to leave the table and go to our friends to discover with them that Jesus is truly alive and calls us together to become a new people--a people of the resurrection.” +
Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.
+Henri J. M. Nouwen, With Burning Hearts: A Meditation on the Eucharistic Life, (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 1994), p. 86.
Collect of the Day, Proper 27, the twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost
O God, whose blessed Son came into the world that he might destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life: Grant that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves as he is pure; that, when he comes again with power and great glory, we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 236)
Today we celebrate the Feast of Charles Simeon, teacher and promoter of missions (died 12 Nov 1836 CE).
Collect of the Feast of Charles Simeon
Loving God, whose unerring wisdom and unbounded love order all things: Grant us in all things to see your hand; that, following the example and teaching of your servant Charles Simeon, we may walk with Christ in all simplicity and serve you with a quiet and contented mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
A Collect for Peace
Most holy God, the source of all good desires, all right judgments, and all just works: Give to us, your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, so that our minds may be fixed on the doing of your will, and that we, being delivered from the fear of all enemies, may live in peace and quietness; through the mercies of Christ Jesus our Savior. Amen. (BCP, 123)
For Vocation in Daily Work
Almighty God our heavenly Father, you declare your glory and show forth your handiwork in the heavens and in the earth: Deliver us in our various occupations from the service of self alone, that we may do the work you give us to do in truth and beauty and for the common good; for the sake of him who came among us as one who serves, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 261)
A Prayer for Light
Grant us, Lord, the lamp of charity which never fails, that it may burn in us and shed its light on those around us, and that by its brightness we may have a vision of that holy City, where dwells the true and never-failing Light, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 110)
A Collect for Mission
Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. (BCP, 100)
Daily Office Epistle, Revelation 19:1-10
19:1After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, ‘Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power to our God, 2for his judgments are true and just; he has judged the great whore who corrupted the earth with her fornication, and he has avenged on her the blood of his servants.’ 3Once more they said, ‘Hallelujah! The smoke goes up from her forever and ever.’ 4And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who is seated on the throne, saying, ‘Amen. Hallelujah!’
5 And from the throne came a voice saying, ‘Praise our God, all you his servants, and all who fear him, small and great.’ 6Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty thunder peals, crying out, ‘Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. 7Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready; 8to her it has been granted to be clothed with fine linen, bright and pure’— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. 9And the angel said to me, ‘Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’ And he said to me, ‘These are true words of God.’ 10Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, ‘You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your comrades who hold the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.’
Daily Prayer Offices in The Book of Common Prayer
Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, Book of Common Prayer
Noonday Prayer, p. 103, Book of Common Prayer
Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p. 109, Book of Common Prayer
Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer
Compline (Night Prayer), Page 127, Book of Common Prayer
Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer
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