Bodies, Blood and Blessing

 On Sunday, James Ammon, a certified lay preacher at St. Paul’s, talked about Jesus’ toughest teaching: John 6:53f. Jesus says essentially, if you don’t eat my flesh and drink my blood you have no part of me.  We who call ourselves Episcopalians understand this as a part of sacramental theology. Our corner of the Christian community highlights and cherishes sacraments as the best way of understanding God and God’s purposes in this world. 

Sacraments are defined as outward visible signs of inward and spiritual grace. Wine and bread at communion, water at baptism, these signs tell us about grace. And – and this is a biggie: they also make us participants and embodiments of grace.


Jesus urged us to see them that way. Why else would he be so outrageous as to say eat my flesh and drink my blood? In John 6, he says this in a public gathering. But in the other gospels, Jesus says this while he is holding  of bread and a cup at the table with his closest friends. It’s the night before he will be tortured and killed by the powerful. He knows what’s coming. And he offers his friends tangible symbols of sacrificial love. When we take the bread and cup, that’s the sign of grace we are given. And the grace we are invited to become. 


Episcopal theology is not defined by a theologian. We don’t have a John Calvin or Martin Luther to quote. We don’t have a doctrinal statement. We don’t particularly trust doctrine. Our theology is found in our Prayer Book. In the action of prayer and sacrament. How we understand the Trinity, the crucifixion, human sin, free will, or divine providence, those things are left for us to explore and embrace using the tools offered from other traditions. We don’t take a firm line on them.


Our non-negotiable is the goodness of God embedded in this good earth. In bread, wine, water, the love between partners, the love that calls people to serve, the oil of healing resting on the skin of one who suffers. These are our theology.
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Look for other visible signs of grace today. Perhaps you’ll hear a song that God shines through. Perhaps a smile from a stranger, or an unexpected thank you letter will be your sign. Goodness surrounds you. Grace is everywhere. If you doubt, just take a breath, and give thanks for the air that fills you. Grace.