Morning Devotional 071025 Take, Eat, and Be Comforted!

Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room

July 10, 2025

Matthew 14:13-19

13 When Jesus heard about John, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. When the crowds learned this, they followed him on foot from the cities. 14 When Jesus arrived and saw a large crowd, he had compassion for them and healed those who were sick. 15 That evening his disciples came and said to him, “This is an isolated place and it’s getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” 16 But Jesus said to them, “There’s no need to send them away. You give them something to eat.” 17 They replied, “We have nothing here except five loaves of bread and two fish.” 18 He said, “Bring them here to me.” 19 He ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves of bread and the two fish, looked up to heaven, blessed them and broke the loaves apart and gave them to his disciples. Then the disciples gave them to the crowds.

Good Morning! Let us break bread together on our knees!

Take, eat, and be comforted

Drink and remember, too

That this is my body and precious blood

Shed for you, shed for you!

I sometimes have those out-of-the-blue moments when I feel alone or just out of sorts. Other times, I suddenly smile at a long-forgotten memory. My humanness fascinates me. I marvel at the automated processes that operate within me, of which I have no knowledge. 

Then, I move to matters of the heart and mind. It interests me to consider how or why some things move me to tears while others to laughter, and then others that evoke no emotion at all. There appears to be a special connection that links our hearts and brains in the spiritual and emotional realms. 

How does one unexpected thing (word, object, sound, smell,...) trigger a memory to suddenly reveal itself? My reactions to such memories can range from slight to immense, from happy to sad, or from comforting to overwhelming.

When we find ourselves in need of comfort, what kinds of things bring us comfort? For me, I find connections to happier times bring me comfort. My senses activate these connections, actual or remembered. The smell of baking bread immediately whisks me back to my mother-in-law’s kitchen. The sounds of laughing children make me forget my worries and put a smile on my face. 

The act of blessing, breaking, and sharing bread allows me to feel the presence of God and all those with whom I’ve shared the Lord’s table for my lifetime of memories. I see the faces of those who have gone before me. I feel the touch of my childhood pastor’s hand. I smell the yeast, and I’m filled with comfort. 

Holy Communion is a time when we join with God in a liminal space that is not bound by our earthly conventions of time or space. Take, eat, and be comforted! Drink and remember, too! Blessed is our Lord and Savior, who makes us worthy to dine together for all times.  

Giving Lord, you bless us abundantly! God, you made us in your image. We thank you! Open our hearts and minds so that we may hear your calling in our lives. Thank you. We love you, Lord! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen

Thought for the day: Jesus, our Lord and Savior, died to make us worthy to sit at the table. 

Accept God’s gifts and be blessed! Pastor Liz