Grace is messy

On Wednesday of this week, we gathered for the first time for casual worship and to start
building community. And something unplanned happened. Lots of people received holy communion
for the first time in their lives. Here's how it happened. We were talking about what
church is about, and how church is kind of like Jesus is throwing this
big dinner party. And when Jesus hosts a dinner party, ALL are invited. Young,
old; rich, poor; black, white and brown; doubters, believers; gay, straight; single, married,
divorced.

And then, when it came time for holy communion, there was nothing to do but offer bits
of bread and wine -- which we believe convey the real presence of Jesus -- to EVERYONE.

It was kind of messy.

A few people were confused.

I'll bet that's how it was when Jesus was walking around in Jerusalem and hosting dinner
parties. It was kind of messy and people were confused. "You're inviting WHOM? You're
eating with WHOM?"

Here's the thing: Jesus gave his body and blood for EVERYONE as a free gift without condition.
Because he gives his love and forgiveness freely, we can't say, "It's only for people who are
ten years old." (That would be putting a condition on a free gift...like Jesus handing us
a big box wrapped up and then pulling it away, saying, "Oh, you're only six? This isn't
for you." Or, "Oh, you've not been to church before? My love and forgiveness aren't for you.")

God's unconditional love and forgiveness are FOR YOU. No matter who you are.

And so we practice that grace when we worship together. Sometimes it might get messy. But, as
we live life together, we'll all grow in our understanding of this mysterious gift that
Jesus would pour out his whole life on the cross FOR US.

What do you think about that? Please post a comment and let's have a conversation about it.

Deb