You are standing at the window looking at the powerful storm raging outside. Lightning rips through the sky, so bright it hurts your eyes. Thunder booms, shaking your home. The wind compels mighty trees to bow before it. You are filled with awe. The words “awe” and “awful” all come from the same Old English root: aga, meaning both “wonder” and “dread.” As you look at the storm, you are in wonder of the power. The thought of going outside, unprotected from that wild power, is dreadful. It could well be the end of you!

Thunder is a whisper compared to God’s voice. If trees obey the wind, the wind obeys our God. This is why every time in Scripture someone sees God’s glory, the result is fearful awe. On Christmas Eve, when the shepherds were surrounded by God’s glory, “they were terrified” (Luke 2:9). God responded to their fear with grace. He came to them another way—with all his power and glory hidden under the flesh of a newborn baby. In that way, God encouraged the shepherds to approach the inapproachable—their Lord and Savior.

Still today, God hides his power and glory so that we might approach him without fear. Under bread, the incarnate God hides his real body. Within wine, God hides his real blood. As you come to Holy Communion, there need not be fear. May there be a sense of awe, however, as you partake of a meal that contains way more power than lightning.