I've read this passage many many times before. In most churches you hear it every time communion is celebrated. I don't know... Today the "community" aspect of it just hit me. I had a dream a long time ago about "communion" and so this sort of resonated with me (I wish I could just "attach" the dream so you could click on it if you want but not be overwhelmed by it, but alas no... or I just don't know how to do it)
Anyway, I just think it's so neat how we are really all dependent on the same food and drink for life... or we should be rather. I think it's interesting how "communion" celebrated in churches is a very independent, solitary, reflective thing. I'm not saying that's bad, but it is strange how much focus we put on the individual's response to God, often overlooking our interdependence on each other... There is something about eating a meal together (like the disciples did at Passover) that puts us all on the same playing field. We all need food/drink to survive. We all need Jesus as our sustenance. It's good to remember that we are all creation. That we all come back to the same fountain, that we all NEED. I don't really have the words to describe my feelings on the whole deal... but it's something I think about a lot and I think there are some very real, deliberate things we can do to put our perspectives right... but I'll save that for another time!
You're not really my friend until you've put your feet under my table.-- a saying
Always see your visitor as hungry, lonely, and tired.-- Navajo saying
E.T.A: More than this: "often overlooking our interdependence on each other," our equal station to each other... people in need, before God, the only One who gives us real LIFE, movement and breath, not only as individuals, but more importantly and to His glory, as His Body, The Church.
E.T.A: More than this: "often overlooking our interdependence on each other," our equal station to each other... people in need, before God, the only One who gives us real LIFE, movement and breath, not only as individuals, but more importantly and to His glory, as His Body, The Church.
Great thought. I'd love to hear your ideas on how we could make communion more communal, at least we could do it at times.
ReplyDeleteI'm not so much referring to communion like "at church"... I understand the need to be simple and when the weekly gathering is serving as more of a bridge from the outside to the inside, I also think you don't want to clutter things up too terribly.
ReplyDeleteI know I used the example of communion in churches though, and I do think in general the churches (like America) put too much emphasis on individuality. However I think what Jesus did at Passover was much bigger than our little token of remembrance on Sundays.
I'm not a Bible scholar and won't pretend to be one. But I have to wonder if when he said, "every time you do this, remember me"... perhaps he wasn't just referring to the ceremonial remembrance at the Passover holiday.
I really believe he was starting something new there with them. And as evidenced by the church in Acts... how much of their time was spent in "communion" with one another... eating and drinking together... praying together... living life together... Not just meeting at church once a week or celebrating the holy days. I mean the new covenant was a lot about entering in together to a life (a real life, not just a church life) in, about and amongst Jesus.
I think every time we eat, we should remember that we get our life from/take our nourishment from the Bread of Heaven and the blood of the new covenant. And how much more special that is to do that together... to recognize we're coming from the same place to God who sustains us...
And I don't think it's something that has to be done ceremonially. I think just the act of eating together makes the reality of our relationship to God evident.
I just think we need to be more intentional to live our "everyday lives" together. And I know that sounds vague, but I think that involves different efforts for different people. For me personally, that's opening my house to people during the week. It's not always easy, but I can do it, and it's worthwhile. I think it's important that when people see/talk to me "at church" on sundays, they know that's the same me they sat around the table with during the week. For others, maybe it's a phone call or an email... I dunno. I don't think it happens naturally. I think that kind of communion is more an obedience thing... and the kind of thing that God gets glory for.
That's funny. My comment's bigger than my post.
ReplyDelete