The Fish Net
Boston Presbyterian Church
Easter 2012
Dear Friends,
	It was certainly a strange week.  On the Monday morning I met with the surgeon concerning my cataracts and in preparation for what is to come she did a procedure with a laser and put drops in my eyes.  She warned me that this would substantially reduce my eyesight for a while but I was totally unprepared for what happened.  To all extents and purposed I went blind for about twelve hours.  As the week passed sight gradually returned but things were still rather dim.  I returned to see the surgeon on the Friday and once again she put drops in my eyes.  Their impact was like magic.  Suddenly I could see again; indeed it was as if the cataracts no longer existed.  Able to see things clearly at a distance, it was like looking at a whole new world for the first time.  The influence of the drops didn’t last long though and after a few hours I reverted back to a somewhat cloudy view of things, but this experience got me thinking.
	Those few hours on the Friday afternoon were, I hope and pray, but a foretaste of what my life will be like after the operations later in the spring.  As it was that Friday, so it is with communion.  Communion is and communion means so many things.  It is a symbolic re-enactment of the Last Supper.  It speaks to us about the love of God, the forgiveness of sins and new beginnings.  While all of these things, communion also offers a glimpse or foretaste of what shall be.  In the words of the old communion hymn:
Feast after feast thus comes and passes by,
Yet, passing, points to that glad feast above,
Giving sweet foretaste of the festal joy,
The Lamb’s great bridal feast of bliss and love.
	Indeed Easter, our most triumphant holy day does the same thing; at its best it too gives us a foretaste or glimpse of what shall be.
	Wishing you a most blessed Easter,
Shawn