This Lent, we are using the “Wandering Heart” worship series from A Sanctified Art. This communion liturgy finds itself in Caesarea Phillipi as Jesus asks the disciples, “Who do you say that I am? As we ponder Jesus’ question, we might consider whether our answer is safe, requiring nothing from us, or a bold statement of Jesus is that requires a change in our lives. My congregation’s tradition is to extinguish a candle each week of Lent as we near Good Friday, which is included in the prayer after communion. Let us gather at the Table.
Welcome
“Who do people say I am?”
This question is easier than it seems. We can answer it without any real risk. After all, we’re not responsible for what other people say. But this isn’t what Jesus really wanted to know. He really wants to know who we say he is.
We can dance around this. Jesus is teacher, healer, grace-giver. The disciples would have considered him a friend. But like our list of who other people say Jesus is, these identities don’t require much of us.
Who is it that we really believe Jesus to be?
It might be difficult for us to come up with one identity for Jesus. Throughout our lives, we know him in many ways. We may have experienced Jesus as the one who sees us as we are but loves us anyway. The one who replaced the raging storm within us with a peace that surpasses all understanding. Jesus may be the one who healed us physically or emotionally. Maybe Jesus is the one who fed us with the Bread of Heaven when we realized our soul was starving.
These are all true and we could name many more. But is this the answer Jesus is looking for? Is this what Jesus means when he asks, “And what about you?”
As we come to the Table today, let us reflect on who believe Jesus to be. Do our answers require anything of us, keeping Jesus at arms’ length so we don’t need to commit? Or can we say that Jesus is not only the Son of the living God, but the Living God itself? Will we say this out loud? Will we change our lives because of it? In our knowing and unknowing, let us offer our prayers to the God who is.
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Holy Mystery, we repeat the words of the prophets and psalmists that your ways are not our ways. They are too wonderful for us to understand. We could not dream up this Creation, a pillar of fire that guides us in our wanderings, or the many ways you keep your promise to bring us home. God of more than our words can explain, we praise you for who you are.
Jesus, the Living God among us, how can we limit you to what we understand? Even when bound by a human body, time and space, you were still the I AM. You are still the I AM. Our hope, our judge, and our salvation; the Way, the Truth, and the Life — you continue to show us who you are, and for that we give you thanks.
Spirit of Glory, you whisper awe and truth into our hearts. You provide us wisdom and understanding. You are our counsel and might. You are the spirit of our adoption into the family of God. You are the Love that calls us beloved.
Holy Spirit, there is no limit to what we don’t understand. But for what we do believe and have yet to believe, we come to this Table to know you anew. We ask that you surround us with your presence, making our ordinary juice and bread into an experience of communion with our Triune God. Continue to teach us who you are and who we are in you.
With the joy of our faith and the reality of our doubts, we pray together using the words each of us were taught as children, saying: Our Father…
Invitation
“Who do you say that I am?” Here at the Lord’s Table, we confess that Jesus is the Christ, son of the living God. We proclaim a faith that continues to seek understanding.
And even though we cannot fully understand it, we break the bread, remembering how Jesus allowed his body to be broken for us. We share the cup, remembering that it is grace poured out for the forgiveness of our sins. And we proclaim the Risen Christ until he comes again.
Called by Christ, let us gather at the Table. May we experience the faith we proclaim.
Prayer After Communion
Jesus, our inability to fully describe who you are places no limits on you. We thank you for all the ways you have already made yourself known to us. We seek your wisdom to understand what we do not yet know. As you have been present with us at Table today, may we become more fully aware of your holy presence elsewhere in our lives.
Today, we extinguish the candle of unbelief that represents a safe, uncommitted faith. May we be willing to believe more fully who you are and who you call us to be. Amen.
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If you are looking for more liturgical resources, please consider checking out my books:
Prayers for the People: Scripturally Based Prayers for Worship
Come to the Table: Communion Liturgies of Invitation to Celebrate and Experience the Love of God is a collection of communion liturgies inviting worshippers to experience and respond to the Gospel. These meaningful liturgies enhance and reinforce the biblical message of the day. Worshippers are welcomed to the Table to experience the Word in preparation to go out into the world and live it. Come to the Table includes liturgies for the entire liturgical year providing pastors with a valuable resource in worship planning.
