July 15th Reflection by Bill Lynch

Genesis 18:1–10a
The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them, and bowed down to the ground. He said, “My lord, if I find favor with you, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. Let me bring a little bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.” And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Make ready quickly three measures of choice flour, knead it, and make cakes.” Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it. Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate.

They said to him, “Where is your wife Sarah?” And he said, “There, in the tent.” Then one said, “I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent entrance behind him.

Reflection
Here in this passage God comes to Abraham quickly and Abraham responds quickly.Abraham ran to these men because he recognized God's appearance in them. Abraham was receiving many angelic visits now with the promise of a son in Isaac.

Perhaps this passage depicts a communion with God or a ceremony with God in which the agreement of a son to Abraham would be confirmed.

As we live our lives, do we recognize God in our midst? Do we see the presence of God in those that God gives to us? When we are aware of the great promise God has freely given to us through Jesus we spring into action in the presence of God. We have been provided with new life. We have been promised a new birth that is beyond imagination. Much like the birth of a child to an old couple, we have been given a new birth to an old man that at one moment was dead.

In Christ we spring to new life and new birth in the presence of God. It's no wonder that we want to celebrate this new life with a supper. Perhaps that's the supper that we desire in the bread and the wine and in the body and the blood. A supper that confirms a new birth and a new creation. A supper that we gladly and quickly prepare in the presence of God. God attends this supper as well. Attends this supper in no other way than with himself. God attends and we commune with God in new life.

Prayer
Lord, open my eyes to recognize you in those you give to me, that we may commune one with you and one with another... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen