Psalm 34:8-18, 22 “O taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are those who take refuge in him.” vs. 8
While we can’t be certain what the psalmist was referring to in this well-known verse, it does strike a chord with those who yearn for a deeper experience of the Divine Presence. It may even be one of the reasons that the Sacrament of Holy Communion has had such deep significance for so many believers through the years. Many believe that it’s in this meal that we experience the Real Presence of the Risen Christ, but more than that, this is the one time in worship where our sense of taste is powerfully engaged. We see the ritual, hear the words, smell the incense, and touch the host–and then we get to taste the body and the blood of Christ–and the flavor of the bread and wine clinches the experience. In the chewing and the swallowing the Divine comes into our bodies and holiness fills us in a palpable way. That’s what many have been missing in this time of pandemic, and that’s why some have embraced the on-line Zoom experiences which include the opportunity to actually taste and remember that the Lord is good. How good it will be when we can all safely return to our sanctuaries and join with our faith communities in our common meal! We’ll not only hear the words of institution, but we’ll rejoice in the bread and the wine, and their extraordinary penetrating tastes.
Thought for the Day: Why is the sense of taste so important?
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