The Henri Houwen Society in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with Father Henri J. M. Nouwen DAILY MEDITATION "A Place of Vulnerability and Trust" for Monday, 3 October 2016.

Photo courtesy of Jim van DijkThe Henri Houwen Society in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with Father Henri J. M. Nouwen DAILY MEDITATION "A Place of Vulnerability and Trust" for Monday, 3 October 2016.

When we gather around the table and eat from the same loaf and drink from the same cup, we are most vulnerable to one another. We cannot have a meal together in peace with guns hanging over our shoulders and pistols attached to our belts. When we break bread together we leave our arms - whether they are physical or mental - at the door and enter into a place of mutual vulnerability and trust.
The beauty of the Eucharist is precisely that it is the place where a vulnerable God invites vulnerable people to come together in a peaceful meal. When we break bread and give it to each other, fear vanishes and God becomes very close.

For further reflection...
While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."[Luke 24: 36 (NIV)]
Your response...
When have you experienced "vulnerable God meeting vulnerable me" at the altar?

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Text excerpts taken from Bread for the Journey, by Henri J.M. Nouwen, ©1997 HarperSanFrancisco. All Scripture from The Jerusalem Bible ©1966, 1967, and 1968 Darton, Longman & Todd and Doubleday & Co. Inc. Scripture chosen by L. Yeskoo.
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