Prayer of the Week - Pentecost

Beloved Parishioners,

On my mind the last few days has been the idea of God "dwelling among us." We often say that God is present in our lives or in certain places, but the manner of God's presence varies. That is, God has many different ways of being and showing His presence. For instance, in Genesis God enjoyed evening Garden walks with his new creation. In Exodus, God traveled with the Israelites in the form of a pillar of fire and cloud. They even made a tabernacle for God to dwell in among his mobile people. Eventually, a massive Temple was built to be God's house in Jerusalem. After it was destroyed by invading armies, the Jews returned and rebuilt it. Then God came into our presence in an entirely new way: as incarnate flesh in the person of Jesus Christ. The post-resurrection appearances of Christ to the apostles shows yet another way in which God has dwelled among us. This Sunday we are celebrating the feast of Pentecost--this recognizes the gift of the Holy Spirit to the church--yet another way in which God dwells with(in) us.

One traditional way that churches have maintained a sense of God dwelling among us is to maintain a "Reserve Sacrament." Whatever part of the host consecrated at the Eucharist that was not eaten could be set aside in the church during the week. One of the main uses for the Reserve Sacrament is to give Communion to the sick. The prayers done at the bedside then become a continuation of the public worship done on Sunday morning. Having the Reserve Sacrament in the church during the week also has a way of extending the worship through time. In other words, some residue of the Sunday worship remains behind--the feast is extended. The particular way in which God is present to us in the sacrament of the Last Supper continues to echo through the week.

I believe it was Andrew Sheldon who first began keeping some of the Sacrament in Reserve at COTM. For years it was kept on a shelf in the Sacristy, ready to be administered to those in need during the course of the week. I've taken this practice one step further by purchasing a simple wooden "Tabernacle" to hold the Reserve Sacrament in the church space itself. Now when I'm saying my prayers or when others come to pray here (as they often do during the week), we can look at the Tabernacle and know that God still dwells among us, not just as we gather on Sundays but in a continuous way. Communion is more than just a blessing--it is nourishment. And nourishment implies an ongoing process that has its beginning in one moment (Sundays) and fruition in another (our efforts to be holy and loving during the week).

You might notice that I haven't gone into a very technical explanation around the problems of Transubstantiation or other debates about what the Eucharist actually "is." To be honest, I'm not really sure how God is present in a piece of bread or a sip of wine, I just know that he is! My favourite definition of Sacraments says they are, "Outward and visible signs of an inward and spiritual grace." I'm perfectly happy to let God figure out the "how" and concentrate instead on the "where."

You see, as church we are constantly trying to propagate places where people can encounter the living God. We create programs, gather for worship, fuss over buildings, publish materials, and make all kinds of other efforts to provide opportunities for people to be changed by encountering God. Keeping a Reserve Sacrament is yet another place where that can happen.

Heavenly Father, we thank you that through your Son you have given us signs of your love for us. Help us to feel your close and abiding presence in our lives. Preserve and nurture the Holy Spirit that resides in us as your gift to those who believe. Keep us ever mindful of you, through Christ our Lord, Amen.

In Christ,
Tay