On the first weekend of each New Year, my family gathers, as
we have for many years, to celebrate “old” or in my case, Ukrainian Christmas.
This is a family tradition on my paternal side that was started so many years
ago, that it’s beyond my own memory. My grandfather, Dymetro Shindruk, was born
in Austria, and as a young man, a teenager perhaps, lived in the Ukraine. As
the Russians invaded the other Slavic countries in the early 1900’s, his
freedom was paid for by his father by bribing border guards. He made his way to
a ship in England than to Canada. After so many years, our family history faded
and died with him, and my own father, yet we still celebrate. By this, I mean
we enjoy a family supper at my mom’s home, on the Sunday closest to
January 7th each year, sharing traditional Ukrainian food. We
will not exchange gifts, or have the twelve meatless dishes that represent the
Apostles, but we will prepare peroghies, cabbage rolls, and borshch, using very
ordinary and basic ingredients, guided by original family recipes from my
paternal grandparents. This get together is part tradition, part time to give
thanks as a closely knit family, and it also serves as a celebration and
reminder to remain proud of my heritage, and a time of fond remembrance of my
father.
As I thought of this, I could not help reflecting on the
parallels as we gather to share communion. When Jesus gathered his disciples
for what we know as the last supper, they shared food. It also was very
ordinary and basic, bread, and drink. In Luke, 22:19 NIV. And He took
the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them saying “This is My
body given for you; do this in remembrance of Me”. They would only realize much
later, just what He was telling them. Whenever we gather to share food, may it
be a reminder that this too, is communion. As we speak Jesus’ name in all
things, let us be reminded to give thanks for the heritage He has gifted to us,
and always be in fond remembrance of the presence and the sacrifice of our
Father.
Mike Shindruk
www.mastershandministry.blogspot.ca
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