How does God taste?

Parents spend a great deal of time in church telling their kids to be quiet, when sometimes we should be listening to thier questions. Last Sunday, Jonah turned to his dad while the pastors were preparing for communion and asked very seriously, " what will Jesus' blood taste like?"

It helps to know that Jonah, like his brother Noah has been welcome at the communion table since he was about one. He's learning what it means to be part of the family of God as he sings and prays and eats with his brothers and sisters. We too often think that kids "that young" can't understand what is going on in worship. I think that often they understand more than we do, just because they are willing to ask the questions we adults think are not good questions.

Dad's answer was that the blood would taste like grape juice. Jonah figured that that was good, he liked grape juice. What does the body and blood of Jesus taste like? I spent half of a day with 18 fourth graders at Zion learning about communion in accordance with local tradition. They had some good questions too. So did the parents, I expect, but only one was brave enough to actually ask.

We all learn about God's love by experiencing it. I believe that Jesus said "this is my body" and "this is my blood" to everyone at his passover table, including the youngest child who gets to ask the most interesting questions. I still don't understand exactly what he meant by that statement, but I believe it none the less.

Ask, and it shall be given to you, seek and you shall find, knock and the door shall be opened!

Pax