At one of our recent early services I had an unusual first-time experience while receiving communion. 

The communion assistant presented the tray to me with the traditional verbiage.  I remember removing the cup of wine from the tray.  And then I have a brief moment of memory loss as the next thing I remember seeing was the tiny cup that was in my hands spiraling through the air.  The end result was the adornment of the communion assistant’s robe with most of the wine.  The remaining wine ended up on the carpet, the altar rail, and the robe of the communion assistant who collects the empty cups.

I was MORTIFIED.  I froze.  I had spread the blood of Christ far and wide.  What was the protocol?   Was there a special prayer to “de-sanctify” the stains so the robes could be washed?

I’m sure it took her a moment to process what happened, but the communion assistant presented the tray of cups to me again, and repeated the words “The blood of Christ, shed for you.”  I’ll be honest, I looked at her for a moment and thought “Do you really want to try this again?” but I took the cup, and this time there were no flying cups and I drank.  I returned to the organ.  We sang a communion hymn. 

How often do we inadvertently spill the blood of Christ in ways unintended when we forget to love our neighbors as ourselves?  When we forget to feed His sheep?  When it’s one of those days we are “only” burdened by “tiny” sins and they aren’t that important?

What about when we know we are unworthy or we know we are going to stumble and stray.  “Are you sure, Lord?  Do you really want to try this again?”  And every time, Jesus is there, reminding us.  “This is my blood, shed for you.”

Never forget that God loves us unconditionally and we are always welcome at His table. 

Come to the table of mercy, prepared with the wine and the bread.
All who are hungry and thirsty, come, and your souls will be fed.
Come at the Lord’s invitation; receive from his nail-scarred hand.
Eat of the bread of salvation, drink of the blood of the Lamb.
– Claire Cloninger

Silas