Communion Part 3

 

The names of the organs of sense are frequently applied to the soul, so that it may be said to see with the eyes of the heart … so it is said to hear with the ears when it perceives the deeper meaning of a statement. For this reason we also say that it makes use of teeth when it chews and eats the bread of life which comes down from heaven.  Origen A.D. 230

 

One of the powerful parts of communion is that Christians have been celebrating this sacrament for centuries.  The quote from the early Christian writer, Origen, above reminds us that people have reflected on what communion means since the very beginning.  And, because the church is a very human institution, we have also been arguing about communion and the “right” way or “my preference” since the very beginning too.  In Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth, we hear this:

 

For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, ¹⁹ for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. ²⁰ When you come together, it is not the Lord's supper that you eat. ²¹ For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. ²² What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? (1 Corinthians 11:18-22)

 

It isn’t just the modern-day church that likes to argue/debate/disagree on everything.  That is as old as our earliest ancestors.  In Corinth, we hear that some people stuff themselves with food.  Imagine someone taking a whole handful of bread and gulping down the whole cup/chalice of juice, not leaving anything for the next person in line.  Imagine some people not receiving anything, while someone else is finishing off the bottle of Trader Joe’s wine in the sacristy.  What was happening in Corinth was that individual preferences were dominating the discussion.  What was happening in Corinth was that the rules of meals from Roman culture were laid over communion ~ where the wealthier people ate first until they were full and the lower class or servants at last with whatever crumbs were left over. This leaves Paul with smoke billowing from his ears.  Paul says that in Christ all our differences and distinctions fall away.  There is no longer wealthy and poor; there is no longer religiously righteous and outcast; there is no longer male or female.  Christ bursts and breaks down the walls we try to build religiously, culturally, economically, and societally.  We, in turn, start building those barriers and blockades again and again. 

 

What does it mean that at Christ’s table all are welcome?  What does it mean that your faith has teeth and tongue that can either be used to include or exclude?  How does communion reorder and re-author your life every month?  May we continue to dive and dwell in the invitation to gather at Christ’s name (not yours or mine or any church/denomination/religious authority) with an openness and curiosity of God’s meeting and moving in and through us.  Amen.