Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Communion

For I have received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me."
In the same way also he took the cup, after supper saying. "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."
I Corinthians 11:23-25

I love that we celebrate Communion every Sunday at my church. I love that there is time set aside every Sunday to think about areas in my life where I need God's intervention, His forgiveness, His cleansing. I like it that this time isn't rushed, that there's time for reflection, and that it's up to the individual to decide when he/she is ready to partake of the Lord's supper. I love that I'm surrounded by fellow believers and that we are united not by what we have done as individuals, but by what Christ has done for us.
I wait patiently in line for my turn to tear the small piece of bread from the loaf that is being held by one of the communion servers, dip it into the wine and partake. And now it's my turn. I step before the server, ours eyes meet and we smile at one another. Though we don't know each other well, there is a connection, an understanding that we have a Savior who has paid the debt for our sin, and we are family. It is good and I'm thankful.


Let us come, then, hungering and thirsting for the body and blood of the Lord. He will be present to satisfy the spiritual desires of which He is Himself the author. It would be no feast without Himself. Mere common bread, mere common wine, mere meeting with one another, would this sacrament be unless Jesus Himself were here. "He must break the bread, if it is to nourish my soul. He must pour out the wine, if it is to refresh and gladden me." And we doubt not that He will do this. We come in obedience to His command, and we rely upon His promise. We will seek to commune under their influence, and then we will go away from the table joyfully and exultingly declaring: "As the apple-tree among the trees of the wood, so is my Beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight and his fruit was sweet to my taste."
- Unknown