Remembrances

He makes grass grow for the cattle,
   and plants for people to cultivate—
   bringing forth food from the earth:
wine that gladdens human hearts,
   oil to make their faces shine,
   and bread that sustains their hearts.     Psalm 104:14-15 (NIV)


For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 
I Corinthians 11:23-26 (NIV)

I find it interesting that of all the elements of the Passover Feast, each with its own deep and unique symbolic meaning in Israel's redemption saga, Jesus gave special significance to the bread and the wine.  Especially noteworthy, I think, because wine was not even part of the original Passover celebration, but was added sometime later.

Perhaps one of these "remembrances" should be this: God gave bread to strengthen the hearts of mankind, and wine to bring joy to their hearts.  And Jesus gave his own body and blood to be the bread and wine that fills the redeemed heart with strength and joy.

Don't get me started on whether a miserable morsel of flavorless bread can in any way represent the strength of God's rich provision.  Or whether a stingy sip of reconstituted grape juice can even hope to bring to remembrance the joy of God's amazing gift.  Spiritually or physically!