There is a scene in Peter Weir’s most excellent movie Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, which touches something so deep within me it’s hard to articulate in words. I have glimpses every now and then of what the scene really is which only creates a deeper desire to experience it.

If you’re not familiar with the movie I highly recommend your watching it; I have written about the film on Movie Glimpse (https://movieglimpse.com/master___commander)

  and yet years later I could go back and rewrite what I wrote with even greater insight. Alas there is just so much time so I will simply share this scene.

https://vimeo.com/162186674?ref=em-share

I wish I could find a movie clip with the entire dinner conversation at the Captain’s Table. There is the beauty of camaraderie and fellowship around a table filled with wine, food, laughter and stories which just makes you want to be part of the company. But there is this moment when one of the younger officer’s asks the Captain if he has ever been in Lord Nelson’s company which touches the heart. Aubrey’s response elicits a quiet hush, a holy moment to the table and the film transcends historical time and enters the eternal.

What we are seeing are people gathered around a table remembering their “Lord”. Think now of how the early church met to celebrate the Lord’s Day gathered around a table of camaraderie and fellowship like no other, feasting on bread and wine as they remember with a holy hush the story of Jesus.

This is what the Lord’s Supper, Holy Communion, The Eucharist, The Mass is supposed to be. A table full of Christ’s disciples who are looking back to the Last Supper ( which recapitulated Edenic glory) and forward to The Wedding Supper of the Lamb which is to come in glory, and are in the present experiencing his life and presence with them .