16 March 2010
Psalm 97, 99; Gen. 49:29-50:14; 1 Cor. 11:17-34; Mark 8:1-10

Jacob’s life comes to an end and his final wishes are carried out. This scene speaks to the importance of Joseph in Egypt, the extended period of mourning, the embalming of the body, the procession to the cave for burial, all tell the story of an important person. It is important that Jacob be buried in the land of the promise, the statement is that Egypt is not their home, it is shelter from the storm. Joseph asks through the household for leave to take his father’s remains back for burial and it is granted, significantly, the grandchildren and the flocks and herds do not accompany the procession. Is this surety that the rest are coming back? Joseph’s question of Pharaoh presages the request of Moses to a different Pharaoh four hundred years later, but he offered no surety of return.

How can one feed these people with bread here in the desert? That question has been asked and answered for these people before. In the story of Jacob we see God’s miraculous provision for His people in sending Joseph ahead to provide for them in time of famine, we see it in the wilderness with God’s provision through Moses of bread and water. The people are following Jesus, they have made no provision for their own sustenance, and they need to be fed so Jesus acknowledges their need and here, again, provides for that need. The signs are clear, is anyone noticing?

Two things stand out in this passage on communion. One is that it is spiritually important for them as a community and two, something real happens in communion. The meal is intended to be truly communal, like the feeding miracle in the Gospel lesson, not a set of private picnics held in the same location. It is meant to express their unity in all things. There used to be concerts in a national park near our home and we would frequently attend with friends and we would, as a group, take food for us all. The disparity between what groups of people brought to those concerts was always striking. Families would be gathered with fast food right next to others who had gone to fantastic lengths to make the meal a production with white linens, candles, and several courses of gourmet food. In the church Paul says that all are meant to share with one another in this communion. It is also clear that Paul believes that something both spiritual and physical happens in the act of eating and drinking communion. We are to “discern the body.” That is to say we need to confess our sins prior to communion in order that we receive the offer of life made to those who are prepared to receive it as opposed to those who do not receive pardon for confessed sins but rather judgment on unconfessed sin. Paul connects illnesses and even death with taking this communion lightly.

Let them praise your great and awesome name!
Holy is he!
You have established equity;
you have executed justice
and righteousness in Jacob.
Exalt the LORD our God;
worship at his footstool!
Holy is he!