Devotional Thoughts Based on the Glory to God Hymnal

While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread and after blessing it, he broke it, gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat, this is my body.” Then he took a cup and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

Matthew 26:26-30

Many years ago, as a student of English, I was taught never to end a sentence with a preposition. I would hear people end a sentence with a preposition and I would cringe. I recall teachers repeating that rule over and over. As I have read articles and books, I have discovered that many writers either never learned that lesson or disregarded their teachers’ instructions.

Winston Churchill once allegedly exclaimed, “That is the sort of thing up with which I will not put!” to mock someone who criticized him for ending a sentence with a preposition. Even as I write this devotional, I cringe to write, even for illustrative purposes, these examples: “Where is the game at?” “What did you step on? And “What are you hungry for?”

One question that has become accepted is: “What are you hungry for?” The person is asking do you want hamburgers or fried chicken? Do you want Chinese, Italian, or Mexican food for dinner? Or do you want steak or seafood? For many of us, we are hungry for the Lord’s Supper!

Our last time of coming to the Lord’s Table was March 1, 2020. In our church calendar going without Holy Communion for as long as five months is most unusual. We are hungry for the bread and the cup which symbolize the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. With the social distancing, we are also hungry for fellowship and being able to shake hands, to give a hug or kiss, to sing out loud and to experience the closeness as our church family gathers for worship

Of this hymn the Glory to God commentator wrote:

Submitted together, this text and tune were chosen from about two hundred entries to be the official hymn for the 41^st International Eucharistic Congress held at Philadelphia in 1976.

Prayer

Creator God, “the eyes of all look to You and You give them their food in due season. You open Your hand satisfying the desire of every living thing.” We thank You for our daily provisions. We admit that we are eager to come to the Lord’s Table to be nourished with that spiritual food and to be strengthened to do Christ’s bidding. In His name, we pray. Amen.