Reverence & The Real Presence
Text: 1 Corinthians 11:23-32 In the name of Jesus. Amen. The year was 1542. Communion was being served at St. Mary’s Church in Wittenberg. Bread was taken and laid upon the tongues of faithful, pious Christians. And the chalice was served by the pastor into the mouths of Christians kneeling. It was a typical Sunday Service until a woman taking communion accidentally misstepped and bumped the chalice. She spilled wine on her jacket and onto the bench rail. Now, in attendance at the church service was Martin Luther and Rev. Bugenhagen. When they saw the spill, they quickly moved to the altar, and together they helped the woman clean her coat, and then – get this - they licked up the spilled wine. Yes, you heard that correctly, they licked up the spilled wine with their mouths. Furthermore, it was reported that Luther groaned over the spilled wine, with tears in his eyes, saying, “O, God help!”[1] Now, why do I share this story? I shar...
