Peace (A Communion Blessing From St. Joseph's Square)

 

The sixth song on Rich Mullins' 1993 album, A Liturgy, a Legacy, and a Ragamuffin Band, helps to emphasize one of the many facets of the Lord's Supper or Eucharist: the sharing of the ritual of remembrance with one's church family.

Though it's true the Lord's Supper can be a time of personal reflection and repentance, Paul calls us to be aware of our spiritual brothers and sisters as well. Consider First Corinthians 11:20-22, 27-29: "When you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter! ... So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves."

Though we're strangers, still I love you

I love you more than your mask

And you know you have to trust this to be true

And I know that's much to ask

But lay down your fears, come and join this feast

He has called us here, you and me

And may peace rain down from Heaven

Like little pieces of the sky

Little keepers of the promise

Falling on these souls

This drought has dried

In His Blood and in His Body

In this Bread and in this Wine

Peace to you

Peace of Christ to you

And though I love you, still we're strangers

Prisoners in these lonely hearts

And though our blindness separates us

Still His light shines in the dark

And His outstretched arms are still strong enough to reach

Behind these prison bars to set us free

So may peace rain down from Heaven

Like little pieces of the sky

Little keepers of the promise

Falling on these souls the drought has dried

In His Blood and in His Body

In this Bread and in this Wine

Peace to you

Peace of Christ to you

And may peace rain down from Heaven

Like little pieces of the sky

Like those little keepers of the promise

Falling on these souls the drought has dried

In His Blood and in His Body

In this Bread and in this Wine

Peace to you

Peace of Christ to you

Peace to you

Peace of Christ to you

1993 - Edward Grant, Inc.

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Truth is...I love the interplay between the first phrases of the two verses: "Though we're strangers, still I love you" and "Though I love you, still we're strangers." It is an appropriate reflection on being part of a church body that is by no means perfect but by all means striving to follow the Lord's lead.