What disgusts you? Pastor Justin asked the congregation this question in his recent sermon in 1 Corinthians, while discussing the practice of communion and it’s significance. What do you put in your mouth that you want to spit out? Apparently there is a gene that 4-14% of the population has that causes them to taste a certain chemical that is found in both soap and cilantro. I happen to belong in that percentage, and when I eat cilantro it is like I straight up took a bite of a bar of soap. So I swap it out for parsley when cooking to avoid the sudsy flavor.

Humans like to pick and choose foods, items, politics, and even people based on our personal preferences and aversions. We only partake in what we like, and reject and hate what disgusts us. We tend to set ourselves above others, and forget that our sin is equally as great and we more likely taste like soapy cilantro or (insert gross tasting food item here) when we think we taste like dark chocolate and coffee or (insert deliciousness here).

“Jesus takes a sledgehammer to the psychology of disgust”, Justin remarked in his sermon. In our ordinary set of rules without Jesus, our shallow mindedness leads us into a routine of being our own kings, creating our own social ladders, and sorting through people that don’t look like us. At our parties, we give them an obligatory invite, plastic cups of Charles Shaw Red Blend and later when most people have left, we sit next to our inner circle of like minded friends, and we bust out the locally aged bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon we’ve been saving for a special occasion. Jesus does not exist in that frame of mind. Paul tells the Corinthian church to stay home if they’re going to separate the table, because it is for everyone. It’s for you and me, us and them.

Specifically in the City Pres neighborhood I think it can be easy for me to create these social ladders of us and them, considering we are in the epicenter of homelessness and poverty in Albuquerque, and that is not something that I’ve had to experience. Not only in that do I struggle with placing myself higher on the ladder, but even among my family, friends, or even strangers that make choices or advocate for certain things that I don’t. I am equally as dependent, desperate, and needy and it can be hard to admit that in my pride and my versions of disgust.

Thankfully, Jesus has entered into glory and He has no ordinary rules of time and space. Justin always describes the grace of Jesus like this: “…as the rain falls, and as the sun shines". The Grace of Jesus extends across the universe and is more deep and wide than we can fathom.

Lord, Cause us to have eyes to see like Yours and hearts to love as You do. Push us into uncomfortable places, and give us Your Spirit as we press into intentionality. Draw us evermore into Your presence, point us to liturgies that lead us into knowing and loving You, so that we can, in turn, know and love others that may not look like us. Cause this love to expand our church family and communion table into one that is more representative of all of Your children. May we all have the taste of Your overflowing, unending graciousness at Your communion table. Amen.

~Carly Haynes