Christ is welcoming him at the door of his own house. Naturally he hangs back, aware of how sinful he is. Christ is quick to notice his reluctance and gently asks him if there is something he wants. Herbert replies that only one thing is lacking and that is a guest who is worthy to be welcomed here.

"But you shall be the guest," Christ says.

"Me, with all my sins of unkindness and ingratitude? I can't even look you in the face," Herbert replies.

At this Christ takes his hand with a smile and asks, "And was it not I who made those eyes and gave you them?"

"Of course, Lord," he says, "but I have misused them. I'm ashamed to be here. Let me go elsewhere."

"But don't you know," Christ says, "who it is who bore the guilt?"

This so convinces him that he yields. "I will come in then, but I insist on serving at tables." Even that is not permitted. This is how the argument ends: "You must sit down," says Love, "and taste My meat."

So, says George Herbert, I did sit and eat.

There is a part of each of us that knows we are unworthy to take the bread and the cup. Perhaps it is that very knowledge that stirs us. We may not understand what Jesus really meant when he said that we could not share in his kingdom if his body were not broken and his blood shed, but we know that whatever it means we are not worthy of it. And thus when we take the bread and the cup, we sense grace: God's unmerited love for sinners. We are conscious in a way that we may not be any other time, that we are those sinners and God really does love us. That touches us deep down where we really live.

Ron Newhouse