Let Us Break Bread Together, ELW 471
Devotion
Let us break bread together on our knees;
let us break bread together on our knees.
Refrain
When I fall on my knees,
with my face to the rising sun,
O Lord, have mercy on me.
Let us drink wine together on our knees;
let us drink wine together on our knees. Refrain
Let us praise God together on our knees;
let us praise God together on our knees. Refrain
This hymn calls us to repent, cross barriers we built, and join in a communion of reconciliation with God and our sisters and brothers. We share a meal together. Do we also share our stories and our words' deep meanings?
For example, what do the words "with my face to the rising sun" mean? I usually commune on the "choir side" with my back to the rising sun. Does this invalidate my communing? No! "With my face to the rising sun" is this spiritual's code language that called slaves to a secret meeting before dawn to plan an escape and to pray. We are unlikely to be aware that these words are part of slavery's horrific story. Today, we focus on the reconciliation language.
Indeed, let us reconcile as we break bread together. However, let us also hear and acknowledge the words of all our stories. Without sharing our stories, reconciliation cannot begin.
Prayer
Dear Merciful God, we praise and thank you for your Son and the Supper he shared. Forgive our failure to acknowledge and repent of our past and present injustices against your children. Through your love, please bring us together to humbly share meals, stories, and reconciliation with you and with our sisters and brothers. Amen.