The first Sunday of every month, we celebrate the sacrament of communion. It is a powerful ritual and one that communicates on many levels. I remember being a young boy in my small-town Kansas, Presbyterian church, seated in the pews as they would pass the trays of bread down the aisles followed by the small plastic cups holding grape juice. The minister would say “drink of this, all of you” and I remember being impressed as everyone drank the juice together (followed by the sound of the cups clicking into place in the small cupholders built into the pews). The solidarity of this common act left a strong impression on me.
Sometimes I think we focus on the wrong things in the communion sacrament. Historically, a lot of strong words have been spoken and doctrinal battles fought over the nature of the bread and wine served at communion. Is it the literal body and blood of Christ? Are these elements transformed by the minister’s words or does a spiritual change happen to the bread and juice? Our Catholic friends have placed great emphasis on the transubstantiation of the elements, which I sadly believe is one of several misguided doctrines they have taught over the years. (A couple others include their flawed belief that only men can be priests and their illogical opposition to contraception.) Jesus spoke of himself as the vine, the shepherd, and the living water, but that did not imply something changes with vines, shepherds, or water if we would bring them inside a church. In the same way, the bread and cup are means by which Christ’s message of redeeming love is physically shared with us—metaphorical elements overlaid with powerful spiritual meaning in the communion meal.
One theologian I read years ago argued that when Jesus said, “This is my body given for you,” the demonstrative pronoun “this” does not necessarily refer to the bread. The word “this” could refer to the act of communing together, of blessing, breaking, and sharing bread generously with those at the table. I like the concept that the celebration of communion involves lifting up common elements of bread and juice, seeing them as embodiments of Christ’s common humanity with us, as well as sharing these elements with others beside us—an act of hospitality and grace of which it can be said, “This is what it means to be the body of Christ.” This double interpretation of communion helps us move beyond a fixation on the elements and see how communion is a far-reaching sacrament. It involves gathering at the table, praying together over the elements, re-telling the story of Christ’s loving sacrifice and resurrection power, sharing a brief meal together AND then going out into the world, giving, praying, sharing, and breaking bread with others. In all of that, Christ is present and made known in the world.
The month of May brings together both Easter season and Pentecost—the good news of Christ’s death-defeating love for us and the inspiring witness of the church’s birth through the power of the Holy Spirit. Communion includes both those ideas as well. May we do ““this”—share the communion elements and share all we have with those in need around us—in remembrance of Christ. For such is his command to us today.
—Randy Bush