Today is a day that together as a community, we take communion together.

So if you want to take a moment, get prepared with some bread or a cracker or some juice or some wine, something to drink.

It doesn't matter. The elements can be whatever they are. The point is that these

elements remind us of the broken body of Jesus and the shed blood of Jesus that were broken

on the cross so that you and I could be forgiven and free in all of the pain and grief and shame that Jesus absorbed on the cross.

He wants to take all of those things away from you today and give you his peace,

his life, his righteousness. So with the cup and with the bread, think of the words of this verse.

In Luke chapter 24, verse 30, the story goes that after Jesus took his seat at the table with

them, he took the bread, he blessed it, and he broke it, and he gave it to them.

And their eyes were opened and they recognized him.

Wherever you are with your elements in front of you, would you picture literal, physical Jesus sitting there with you?

His tan, Middle Eastern skin, his long, dark brown hair, his eyes that are kind and compassionate,

almost feel like they can see right through you, but he just gives you love

and acceptance and forgiveness. Picture that he is at the other side of the table with you. Now with that

picture of Jesus sitting across from you, picture that he takes the bread and blesses it.

Now picture him taking your cup and blessing it.

Now take that bread and eat it.

This is the bread that Jesus blessed for you, the body that he gave for you.

And now take the cup and drink it.

This is the blood of Jesus that he willingly gave up so that you could have life.

Right now in your own words, thank Jesus for his broken body and thank him for his shed blood so that you could be blessed and have life today.

Thank you. so that you could be bread and he blessed it.

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