by Naomi Moon

Do This in Remembrance of Me

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking this SoundCloud link.

“And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’”
Luke 22:19 English Standard Version

Have you ever had something become muscle memory? Where you can do something with your eyes closed or where your body already knows what to do before you even start doing it? Jesus institutes the Lord’s Supper, encouraging his followers to partake in this meal consistently, and in remembrance of him. In some ways, this feels like muscle memory. We know the Words of Institution, we know what the bread and wine look like, and in some ways it can be more about your muscles just doing the action than thinking about what is actually going on. 

Yet, every time that I partake in the Lord’s Supper, it is a reminder to me of the monumental sacrifice that Jesus did for me on the cross. He took the punishment of pain and death in my stead and rose from the dead so that I too may also be raised with him. This is more than going through the motions, this is earth shattering Gospel and grace, given to me in the palm of my hand. The mountains shake, the earth trembles, the Lord of All is risen from the dead for you. He gives his body and his blood for you. You are worthy of life eternal in his name because Christ says so in your baptism. By simple, mundane items like water, bread, and wine, the God of the Universe comes to us. We get to rejoice in this truth every time we participate in his Sacraments, remembering what God has done for us within them. 

Copyright Family of Christ Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado