Have you ever found yourself settling into your seat on Sunday morning , and then suddenly noticed that the table up front was set for Communion? What ran through your mind? Were you glad, or did you kind of groan inwardly that you were going to have to "sit through" that part of the service again?
I think how we approach communion has everything to do with our understanding (or lack thereof) with what it is and where it comes from historically. Today's text from Matthew outlines the transition Jesus made as he was completing his celebration of the Passover meal with his disciples. When he lifted the last cup on the table; as he broke the final loaf, he moved from the Passover ritual into something new. He was offering his friends a cup of wine and loaf of bread that were always left untouched as the Passover celebration ended. They represented the bread (body) and cup (blood) of the promised Messiah which were never to be shared until he came and offered them in person. The disciples must have sat up and suddenly realized that something very special was happening. Their teacher, who had struggled for so much of his public ministry to shun the crowds and the spotlight, even asking people to hide his identity as the Messiah, was now proclaiming that identity publicly.
That transition during the end of the Passover meal changed our lives forever. That's a brief history lesson on where our celebration of Holy Communion originated and why I love it so much. As I write this blog, I am listening to Nicole C. Mullins singing "I know my redeemer lives" on the radio. I think that's a good way to end my thoughts for today. Any responses from blog readers? If you can;'t post comments and want to discuss it further, email me at: paul@matthewsumc.org.
Peace,
Pastor Paul
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