Join the Dots

The Pillory, Florence

In recent months, there's been a number of occasions where I suddenly understood something that should have been obvious to me a long time back. Related things but which I never joined the dots. One example was during our recent holiday to Italy, when it dawned on me how the Arco Lamp got its name. I talked about this in my blogpost on Milan.

Another example is the sacrament of the Holy Communion. In our church, we celebrate the Holy Communion every first Sunday of the month as a remembrance of Jesus' sacrifice in payment for our sins. The first ever Holy Communion, also known as the Last Supper, is recorded for us in Matthew 26:

26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” 27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” ~ Matthew 26: 26-29 (NIV)

This sacrament is a reminder of Jesus giving himself to us, His body and and blood, so that we may have forgiveness of sins and life everlasting. But recently, it occurred to me that it is also a reminder that I am His flesh and blood. Just as my kids are my flesh and blood, so I am Jesus' flesh and blood. And for this reason, we are called co-heirs with Christ. 

Another passage from the Gospel of Matthew, which I often struggle with, also became clearer to me recently:

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” ~ Matthew 11: 28-30

On many occasions, I have tried giving my problems to Jesus to solve, asking Him to take what I hand over better. Fix this situation, change the circumstances, sort this mess up. 

One morning, as I was praying on my drive to work, it became clear to me that this passage talks about giving up our human perspective of how things ought to be and taking up Jesus' perspective. Our human perspective may tell us that there is this one thing that will make our lives happier, but Jesus' perspective is that our lives will better if we don't attach our happiness to anything temporal. We exchange our pillory for His yoke. We would find rest if we substitute our value system with what He values. This passage is not about asking God to change my circumstances but asking Him to change me so that I can see pass my circumstances.

Sometimes it takes a lot longer for me to join the dots.