Thursday – “ We Have Seen the Glory of the Lord”

Thursday – “ We Have Seen the Glory of the Lord”

Today was our final day of the retreat.  After the intense work of the past days, it was time to reflect and share in a special time of communion together.  Robyn shared beautiful insight into the meaning of communion following the Jewish wedding tradition.  When a couple became betrothed a year prior to the wedding, the bridegroom would take a glass of wine, drink some, offer it to his betrothed, and pledge not to drink of the wine until they are united in marriage, pledging his fidelity.  He would then go to prepare a home for them, perhaps not to see her for a year.  The bride to be would then go and prepare her wedding garments and other things for their life together.  They would have no guarantees that either of them would break the vow of not drinking it until they were officially married for that year.  It brings new meaning to Jesus’ promise that He would not drink of the wine (as in the final supper with the disciples) until we, His bride, were reunited with Him, and to remember all that He had taught, shared with them and done until that day.

Jesus is a faithful bridegroom; how faithful have we been as we wait for our Bridegroom?  When we celebrate communion, do we take the time to reflect on all that He has done for us, remembrances of His mercy and grace in our lives?  Today we took the time to remember His goodness in our lives, sharing specific times when God has shown Himself faithful.  A beautiful time of sharing.

Then we shared communion, one by one, reminded individually as we took the bread and the cup, that He came and died for us – personally – that He is awaiting the time when we are eternally united with Him, and that we are totally, unconditionally loved and cherished.  What amazing, precious truth!

We ended by taking the group to a place by Lake Tanganyika for lunch.  We wanted to enjoy this sweet community by sharing a meal together by the beauty of the lake, walking together along the beach, enjoying the serenity of the waves.  What a shock to learn that 5 of the 12 had never even seen the lake before!  The cost of transport (it is minutes away from Homecare Center and where we are staying), the lack of money to do anything once they might be there has given them no opportunity.  So very near – and yet, they had not seen it!  They were truly overwhelmed that we would take them there and treat them to a meal.  It seemed utterly extravagant and “beyond their dreams” as they said.  They felt they weren’t worthy of being treated so; one said this was only for ministers of Parliament or people like that.  How could they ever dream of doing that!

As we waited for our meal (not elaborate by any means by our standards – pizza, some salads) several shared (as they have done continually this week) about what a huge blessing this time has been.  One shared, “Now that I know my wounds and how to deal with them with the Lord, I want to go and see my children (in another country) and share this with them.  I know they are wounded; they need this, and I want to share it with them.” Another said, “We now truly realize that God deeply loves us so much He would send people like you to tell us these truths we have never heard before.  He really cares.”  Another, “Now we can share these truths with others.”  And perhaps the most touching, “We have seen the Glory of God this week.  Hallelujah!”

Revealing and unmasking deep wounds, opening them to His light, experiencing healing and hope – this is what this week has been all about.  One of the most impactful we have ever experienced.  Oh, how He loves us!!