Communion - Part One

The Institution of the Lord’s Supper

14 When the hour came, he took his place at the table, and the apostles with him. 15 He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; 16 for I tell you, I will not eat it[a] until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; 18 for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.[b] 21 But see, the one who betrays me is with me, and his hand is on the table. 22 For the Son of Man is going as it has been determined, but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed!” 23 Then they began to ask one another which one of them it could be who would do this.

There are many words to describe what happens when Christian communities gather around the table:
Communion - which emphasizes community;
Eucharist - which means thanksgiving in Greek or giving praise;
Remembrance Meal - which is both about recalling the event recorded above, but also about "Re-membering" - or reconnecting to each other as the living Body of Christ.
Lord's Supper- which emphasizes the One who is the host everything we break bread;
Or Last Supper - which reminds us that this was the last meal Jesus shared with his friends.

No matter what we call the time we gather around the table where Christ is the One who invites us and welcomes us, what remains the same is that it is a sacrament.  A sacrament is a visible and tangible sign of God's grace.  The bread and cup can be seen, touched, tasted on the tips on our tongues, smelled, and becomes part of who we are. Just as as Jesus was God incarnate, in the flesh; so we eat the bread and it becomes part of us. God's grace, which often can feel ineffable, for a moment becomes something we can actually wrap our hands around.  God's grace becomes embodied in our very person.  Yet, it is fleeting.  No sooner do we touch the bread and small cup of juice than are we invited to, "Take and eat, remembering Christ."  Even when God's grace is held in our hands, we realize that we cannot hold onto that grace forever.  Eventually, the service will end and the Pastor will want to turn off the lights and ask us politely to leave.  There are traces of God's grace in our lives, and communion is one of them.

Communion is grounded in Maundy Thursday (Maundy meaning "commandment" and references how Christ tells the disciples of a new commandment - to love one another!).  And so on this Holy Week, we gather around a table, remember Christ did the same thing.  We gather with broken bread, remember Christ did the same thing.  Broken bread holds three significant truths:
First - it reminds us that God's grace is everywhere, even in the broken parts of our lives.
Second - it reminds us that Christ's life was broken by the betrayal, denial, and desertion of so-called friends, known as the disciples.
Third - it reminds us that, if the Church is the living Body of Christ, that we won't always get it perfect.  As the body of Christ, we will say things to each other that cause brokenness.  That happened with the community of Jesus' followers, they caused brokenness right after eating this meal with Jesus.

Within my life of faith, I long for communion as much as possible.  I know some who don't like to celebrate communion too frequently because it might make it less special.  I do hear that.  But I also know that I can hear my wife and kids say they love me every day, it does not make it less special, it is a wonderful affirmation and reminder.  So, it is with God's grace.  But that is one perspective.

This week Christians from around the world will gather around the table.  For one fleeting night, the table has many extensions in it, stretching all around God's creation.  There is wonderful diversity.  We break bread not only with people we see in Church, but with the People of God from every race and country.  I give thanks that this week youth from our church will bake the communion bread with youth from the Lutheran church in town.  The bread we break with our Lutheran brothers and sisters will be made ecumenically by our youth proclaiming the Good News in their very action.  That is a beautiful image.  It is one that embodies Jesus' prayer, "That they may all be one."  For one night we are interwoven together.  But it, too, is fleeting, just like the taste of God's grace in the bread and cup.  But it is also enough, a glimpse of the promise of God in our lives.  I pray you will find a community of Christ to break bread with this Thursday.  It sustains us and gives us the strength to face the cross on Friday.

May the traces of God's grace be felt every day this week!  Blessing!