What are we forgetting? Xmas v. Christmas

I remember the first time I saw the contraction Xmas. I was kind of like, “What is that supposed to mean?” Eventually I figured out it was supposed to be a shorter way to write Christmas. Sure, it was fewer letters, but at what cost?
I remember a lesson my Dad taught me about the importance of writing Christmas longhand. He was at work and a coworker commented about how it was taking him so long to write Christmas on everything and that it would be so much faster to write Xmas. My dad told his coworker something like this,

“What is the difference between Christmas and Xmas? In one of those we cross out Christ. In the other, we are remembering the reason for the season. Every time I go through the extra effort to write Christ’s name down, I remember what the season is all about.” 

In a world full of distractions, it is easy to miss what Christmas is about. In our holiday cheer this year, may we take the time to write out Christmas, and remember the ‘Who’ every time. And remember that He was the greatest Christmas gift a loving Father in Heaven could give.
Merry Christmas!

Sacrament -The Bread of Life

What the Sacrament means to me

Sacrament. Communion. Holy Eucharist. The Last Supper of Jesus Christ is observed in many Christian churches. What the Savior meant when He broke and blessed the bread is interpreted in so many ways. To me, partaking of it represents a covenant I make with him. I feel my experience in church today captures what the sacrament means to me.

We sang the hymn “As Now We Take the Sacrament”( Full hymn, words and music) as the bread was broken by priesthood holders. I was responsible for selecting this hymn. I chose it to remind the congregation and especially myself of why we were partaking. The first two verses go:

“As now we take the sacrament,

Our thoughts are turned to thee,

Thou Son of God, who lived for us,

Then died on Calvary.

We contemplate thy lasting grace,

Thy boundless charity;

To us the gift of life was giv’n

For all eternity. 

As now our minds review the past,

We know we must repent;

The way to thee is righteousness—

The way thy life was spent.

Forgiveness is a gift from thee

We seek with pure intent.

With hands now pledged to do thy work,

We take the sacrament.” 

I take the sacrament to remind myself of Jesus Christ and what He has done for me. I also reflect on my need to walk the way he walked in His perfect life and repent, seeking his forgiveness. He knew I would not be able to walk the perfect path. He knew I would stumble and fall. He prepared a way for me to receive forgiveness and cleansing through His Grace. He also knew that I would need it constantly. I must renew this covenant to follow His path every week because I fail every week.

Jesus explained that the bread represented his flesh, and the wine his blood. While I was waiting for the bread to be passed to me I reflected on his sermon shortly after the Sermon on the Mount.

“53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:53-54)

I recalled learning in Sunday School (in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) years ago that in an ancient Jewish tradition, eating the bread of a teacher meant doing as he did and taught, which is the same as being a disciple. When I eat the bread symbolizing the flesh of Jesus Christ, I covenant that I will do as He did and live as He taught. It is a call impossible to fulfill on my own. I strive anyways trusting that my Savior makes all things possible through His cleansing and life changing Grace.

As the cups were blessed and passed I contemplated the healing portion of the Sacrament. Jesus Christ wanted it to be clear that through the infinite, atoning sacrifice of His we could be washing clean through His blood. He made that clear by teaching that through the symbolic ordinances of the Old Testament. When a lamb was slaughtered on the altar, it was the blood spilt that represented the cleansing power. That pointed to the great and last sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. His blood cleanses us from sin and makes change possible. When I drink out of the sacrament cup I am reminded that it symbolizes His blood and represents the Grace of Jesus Christ cleansing me from sin.

Every week I partake of the sacrament and experience the cleansing Grace of Jesus Christ’s Atonement, commit to eat His bread of life and live life by His example, and commit to always remember Him, my Savior.