Remembering the Body - Psalm 133

“A man can grow so tired, so weary that he forgets himself. He loses the stories of his father and
his father’s father. Forgetfulness is like blindness. For when we lose sight of where we come
from, we stumble forward not knowing whether to step to the right or the left.”

At the sound of Matthan’s voice, a stillness settled over the room. Every eye transfixed by this
gentle, broken man. He limped from a battle wound during his years of service as a Centurion.
His body bore the marks of serving the emperor and then serving the Lord Jesus Christ.
The years of suffering seemed only to heighten the joy of this aging soldier.

When Matthan chose to talk, everyone listened. His voice carried the weight of years and the
weight of love.

“Darkness is all around us in every age. My father knew darkness, his father knew darkness and
his father’s father knew darkness. A war rages against our soul, and we continually battle by
telling our stories again and again and again.”

In the stories of old, Matthan reconnected to the faith given to Abraham, taught in Moses and
glorified in Christ Jesus.

“Our fathers’ suffered years of darkness. They forgot their names, they forgot their songs, they
forgot their God. After centuries in the land of Egyptian power, most Hebrews forget their past.
They cried out for help, but didn’t even know who to call to for help. So they simply groaned.”

“Their cries came up to our Father. He heard them. He remembered. And through His servant
Moses He called them out of the formless void of Egypt and into the mountain of creation, the
holy Mountain Sinai. They heard the Voice. The terrifying, uncreated Voice. The Voice that
called forth heaven and earth. The Voice the spoke light and darkness. The Voice of the
Uncreated God. They heard and they trembled.”

“The Lord came down to His people and He spoke light and life. Just as He created the heavens
and the earth, He recreated His people. He gave them Torah to shape their culture, their families,
their songs, their dreams. He taught them how to remember.”

At this Matthan paused, leaned back, and looked around the room. As he looked into the eyes of
this Gentile community around him, he asked, “Do you remember who you are?”

As he asked this question, Matthan gently laid his hand on the shoulder of Antony, “You are the
children of Israel. Our Father grafted you into his family. This is your story. Don’t forget.”

“Our Father reached into darkness to rescue His family. Our Father freed His people from the
cruelty of Pharoah. Our Father reached into the darkness to retrieve each of you. Our Father
speaks over you just as he did that generation of freed slaves. Our Father is teaching us to be
family, teaching us to love.”

“Even as our Father created a new heavens and earth in the midst of the corrupted heavens and
earth, our Lord Jesus Christ, creates a new heavens and earth through each of you.”

“Dear friends, even as we eat this meal together, we are not alone. We are eating in the company
of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We are supping with Moses and feasting with David. We are
resting in the company of the disciples as our Lord and Savior gives us good food to eat.”

As he said these words, Matthan grabbed a piece of bread from the meal and began to tear it
apart.

“It is Christ Himself who serves us and satisfies our appetite. Come and eat. Come and drink, for
our Savior has welcomed us to this meal of memory.”

“I was a soldier. I was wondering the deserts of Palestine when I heard the story. In the sweet
song of the Savior, I heard my name. I came back to life in the desert of darkness.”

He passed around a cup.

“Jesus is calling us even now. He is calling us to drink of his blood. To rest in His love. To be one
people. Drink my friends and lift up thanksgiving to the giver of all life!”

Even as he spoke these words, Matthan trembled under the weakness of his aged body. He was
tired and ready for another feast.

“Dear friends. We are not gathered around Mt. Sinai this evening. We are not shuddering at the
terrifying voice of the Uncreated Voice. And yet, He is speaking. He is inviting us to feast. He is
welcoming us to Zion. He is preparing for a Marriage Supper. And even now we taste the first
course. Come and eat, Come and drink. Our Lord has remembered even us.”

The small community began to sing. As they sang a doxology to the Lord Jesus, tears rolled
down Matthan’s face like sweet oil.

1 Behold, how good and pleasant it is

when brothers dwell in unity!
2It is like the precious oil on the head,

running down on the beard,

on the beard of Aaron,
running down on the collar of his robes!
3It is like the dew of Hermon,

which falls on the mountains of Zion!

For there the LORD has commanded the blessing,
 life forevermore.
Psalm 133