Saturday, 2 September 2017

Around the Table of the Lord

This morning we will celebrate Communion, which is a sacrament.
A sacrament involves an “outward, visible sign” that is a conduit for an “inward and spiritual grace”
The UCA, and other protestant churches, have 2 Sacraments, Baptism and Communion. These are two actions that Jesus told his followers to do: Baptise; and eat bread and drink wine in memory of me.

The end of the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus says:
I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth! Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world.  

In the communion liturgy, each time we celebrate, we hear the words:
Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it and said:
‘This is my body which is for you.
Do this in memory of me.’

When we share this meal of bread and juice or wine together, we share with Christians of various denominations, around the world.

Here are some comments about each Scripture reading.
Firstly 1 Corinthians. This reading contains the words spoken in most communion services:
I have already told you what the Lord Jesus did on the night he was betrayed. And it came from the Lord himself.
He took some bread in his hands. Then after he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Eat this and remember me.”
After the meal, Jesus took a cup of wine in his hands and said, “This is my blood, and with it God makes his new agreement with you. Drink this and remember me.”
The Lord meant that when you eat this bread and drink from this cup, you tell about his death until he comes.
The section we heard before and after this relate to some concerns the apostle Paul was having with the church in Corinth.  Paul was reminding the people that the Lord’s table was open to all equally.
“The custom back then for dinner parties, was that the rich and important people ate at the head table, with the best food and wine. The poor were seated more on the edges, with less food and cheaper wine.”[i]
In the early church, communion was celebrated as part of a meal, Paul is pointing out that the Lord’s table is different to the cultural norm. But the church at Corinth was not following the example and teaching of Jesus, they were following the cultural norm.
Their supper tables were telling their culture’s story, instead of telling the story of Jesus.[ii]

The Gospels record many occasions where Jesus shared meals with people:
Turning water into wine at a wedding to allow celebrations to continue; the meal at Matthew’s house where he is criticised for eating with a sinner; the meal where he fed 5,000 plus people.; and many more stories.
 Jesus, God incarnated, God’s messenger, did not only speak about love, he enacted words of love by deeds of love.[iii]

The reading from the Gospel of Mark tells of the preparation and eating of the Passover meal by Jesus and the disciples, the night of his arrest.

The Passover meal reminded the people of Israel about the saving work of God in bringing them out of slavery in Egypt. Jesus and the disciples would not be the only ones eating lamb, bitter herbs and unleavened bread that night.
When we gather around the table,
we are telling a story,
in word and actions and symbols.
We are telling a story of God’s action with the people of Israel.
We are telling the story of God’s action in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
We are telling the story of God’s action in our own life.
And God’s action is always of love and liberation.
We would be here for days, if we recounted every example of God saving grace recorded in the Bible, but each time we meet at this table, we hear some of God’s activity over time.
Each time we meet the symbols of bread and wine remind is of the life of Jesus lived for us, poured out for us.
The life of Jesus that lives in us and through us.

In sharing around the table, we give thanks to God, offering ‘a sacrifice of praise’ [Eucharist].
We are also enfolded into Christ as the body of the Christ, the people of God, the communion of the Spirit. [Communion]
The Lord’s Supper is a celebration of the community (Gk koinonia) of Christ; and it is part of the forming of that community in Christ.[iv]

I wonder what does this meal mean to you?
Our practice is to share around the table, to tell this story in words and actions and symbol each month. Is this a significant time for you?

For me, I stand in front of you,
Breaking bread and holding up the cup;
declaring God’s love in liberation and salvation;
speaking of the life poured out for each one of us
of the life lived, the death on the cross, the resurrection to new life
which brings healing, and unity.
According to Paul, Jesus’ body was broken so his church would be united. His blood was poured out to heal our lives, including healing our divisions. Christ’s death healed all the divisions.[v]

As I stand before you with bread and juice
As I speak of grace and love
Life and freedom
As I ask God to send the Holy Spirit to be present in the bread and juice so that we may more fully live as loved children.  
I am awed by the moment:
the speaking words that are life giving
the holding tangible signs of God’s grace to all people
the trust that God has placed in me and each one of us, to be living,
                breathing beacons of hope and peace

what does this time mean for you?
we will take some time in silence to listen for the spirit;


Posted by at
Labels: , , , ,

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)