Getting my mind whet

I had lunch with a dear and bright friend a while back. I have been suggesting to him for some time that he has lots to say that we should be listening to and that he ought to at least have a blog for the benefit of his friends who enjoy engaging him in the verbal thrust and parry which he himself thrives on. Yet, here I sit with little to say and even less that needs to be heard and I am rambling on as if the world should stop and listen to this arrogant man, this broken vessel which can only pour forth from what has been poured in. However, over a burger and fries He has whet my mind even as He has fed my rotting flesh.

My brother and I spoke of the Holy Supper and whether one could be made sick even as one was receiving eternal life. I offered that such would be a contradiction within God. How could He grant you life whilst at the same time communicate to you some disease. Wisdom spoke, "but are we not dying all the time and does not the Lord kill and make alive? And so what if while He is placing His Body and His Blood into your mouth, the very medicine of immortality, you caught a cold? Does not our Lord, speaking through the Apostle Paul, say to the Corinthian congregation, "many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep", in direct reference to receiveing the Lord's Body and Blood? Of course that is because they were eating and drinking in an unworthy manner yet does that mean that all who receive it in a worthy manner will never be adversely affected in the consuming? Certainly not with regards to eternal life but what of the here and now in our germy world?

And what of those individual cups? If the argument for the chalice were to move beyond what is actually received, the very blood of Jesus-God's Son and Mary's son, to what the vessel is made of, precious metal, and also filled with, alcohol in the wine, would these be fitting arguments to suggest that one could never become ill by consuming from the common cup. (I do not believe these are arguments that come from faith) The individual cups of plastic or even glass do not have any of the properties that aid in thwarting germ transmission that the precious metal chalice possesses. So what of them?

Much of my conversation here, stems from recently going to the Higher Things conference in North Carolina. At the Divine Service on Friday afternoon, I was an usher and the last to commune. The young man ahead of me tried to get behind me. I asked him to get back in front of me, to which he responded, "I have mono." I said something stupid and unpastoral like, that's fine, please get in front of me for I am last to commune and I cannot get sick receiving the very gift of life from Life Himself. Upon returning to my congregation I had several conversations with various members and this came up. One person suggested that this was the perfect way to get mono for it is transmitted by saliva and the incubation period was ten days. It has been several months now and I am not sick.

I would like to have my words and mind whet by some of you sharp brothers that I might present this in a positive way to my flock. Wrong understanding which leads to wrong practice which leads to or reinforces wrong doctrine makes for impoverished souls, not rich as the riches of His grace would like. So, off this goes, into the ethernet and beyond. Amazing how much trepidation one can have for this kind of open and public thinking even when of ones own choosing. Weekly into the pulpit to proclaim Him with the confidence that He will accomplish His purpose through this cracked pot and even in spite of the same, yet how much different when it is ones own thoughts, words and lack of wisdom that are exposed, even if by choice not force. I will trust that my fellow baptized will be merciful and gracious towards me even as our Lord is to us all.