Wednesday, May 16, 2012

The Lord's Table

You prepare a table for me in front of my enemies..

I was reading aloud Psalms 23 the other night, and this verse stuck
to my mind and the following thoughts flowed forth. Sharing with all,
hoping some of it might be useful to someone, in some ways.
------------

You prepare a table for me. Specially prepared for me, so special
that I am blessed. I do not count myself worthy of sitting with you O
Lord of Hosts on your Holy table, yet you have invited me. Ignoring
all my sinfulness and filth, you have called me to be by your Holy
side. You saw me a woeful sinner, and saw how hopelessly lost I am if
left to myself, so you came in search of me, and you plucked me away
from my sinful ways. Even in my lowliness, you cared for me. Inspite
of all my weaknesses, you still loved me. In your love, you prepare a
table for me.

The world which crucified you, they will not allow me to live in
peace if I try to come close to you. They gave you, my Lord, a crown
of thorns, what will they give me if I follow you. Surely I create
more enemies than friends if I declare to be yours. In the midst of
this world, you invite me to your Holy Table. In the midst of the
curious onlookers in the World, you serve me from your table. The
food which angels have longed to have, you have kept aside for me.
How blessed is mankind indeed.

You are the host, and you are also the Holy food. You break the
bread, but you also are the bread. What a divine Mystery, which even
the wise cannot fathom, you have made known to simple people. Indeed,
the foolishness of God is wiser than men. While many wise onlookers
stare and sneer, you have revealed your wisdom to a simple being like
me. You have destroyed the power of death, and thrown open a way of
salvation for your flock. No longer will Hades have any power over
the flock, for you entered in us and you live in us, in our bodies,
in our minds, in our hearts and in our souls. You became complete man
so that you can become one with your creation in all aspects. And
then, you prepared the table so that we may always be one with you.

The Table is prepared in front of the world, not hidden from the
world, but before everyone to see. For whoever eats of the food you
give, and drinks of the drink you give, will abide in you forever,
and you who are the bread of life, the food you give on your table is
you yourselves, broken for the redemption of mankind. As you said
long ago, and as the Holy Spirit constantly reminds us, without you
we can do nothing.

O Lord, we submit our very being before your unimaginable love for
us, and partake humbly from your table, which you have prepared for
me before my enemies.

In Christ.
Mathew Samuel,
Albany, NY


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianOrthodox/message/17504

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