Alan Creech posts a few thoughts on the Eucharist, which sets me to thinking again. Back to ‘theology pub’ the other evening, where we discussed communion. “Context is important,” I said, based on the article we discussed and upon my own reflection. Originally it was set in the context of a meal, which is important, because it has to do with community, about communing with one another as well as with God. The context is in community.
One thing that came through clearly is that it’s meant to be a meal, not merely a thimble of grape juice and a thumbnail-sized cracker or breadcrumb. The bland tasteless wafer just really doesn’t pass muster. In the Anglican congregation where I’ve been hanging out and with whom I attended the theology pub night, the table is taken in a circle, from a common cup. Standing in the circle, you are given a piece of bread that’s probably, at minimum, four times the size of the normal crumb. It’s enough to chew, enough to taste. Similarly, it seems that in one service, the approximately 70 people on a given Sunday evening will use as much wine as a much larger Anglican congregation does in four weeks. I don’t have an Anglican background at all, so I really don’t know what’s normal… but at St. Ben’s, the vast majority of people are “sippers,” not “dippers.” I gather that in most congregations, only enough wine to touch and wet the lips is generally consumed by each individual… if you call that “consumed.”
Without being prompted, it seems at St. Ben’s, it’s common to take a sip of wine… not a gulp but enough of a sip to taste it. And this is a good thing… communion should be tasted, so you know you’re there, you know you’re experiencing it. You know it’s the bread of life, because you taste it, you can chew it, and swallow. You take it into yourself. You know you’ve drunk from the cup of redemption, because you taste it, it crosses the palatte, and you swallow it. You take it into yourself. Each week in the liturgy at St. Ben’s, one hears the phrase from fifth century bishop St. Augustine of Hippo: “Behold what you are. Become what you receive.” How does one know it’s received if it isn’t tasted, if there’s not enough substance to swallow it, to know you’ve received it?
Something else that came up in our discussion… the fact that many present recalled traditions where they were urged to examine themselves to be sure they were not taking communion in an unworth manner, or taking it “unawares.” Although many remember being quite concerned or even scared to take communion, It was determined in our smaller group conversation later that this was a definite misapplication of the text. It leads to a thorough and very quick repentance lest one be struck dead… but is that valid? It ought not be so that one must take pains to make ones self “worthy” to approach the table. Jesus wants us to come to the table without fear. After all, who is it for, if not for sinners?
Having come from a traditional Anglican for around 20 years or so
…Think sometimes we turn into somthing it was never meant to be
…something to ritualistic and secular. You bring up a very
beautiful reality, it was done in the context of a meal. Bread and
wine were very much apart of their everyday life. Maybe, if I
dream big enough…Jesus was trying to show them in His hands all
life is grace.
I wonder when we sit with our family and friends over dinner in
evening, do we dream like this. That this to is communion. When
were having coffee and a bagel with a soul mate, can we to dream
that this too is communion. Maybe Jesus meant for this to be
secular…just as much as it is sacred. Just some crazy thoughts…
the Weary Pilgrim, Shalom+
Correction…in the line at the top, that reads,” ritualistic and secular
“, it should read ” ritualistic and sacred.” Shalom+
Good stuff – Eucharist rediscovered! Very good thing. I’m not so much with the whole “it’s only a meal” thing though. I think we forget that the original context of it was a meal not like any other meal, but a special, perhaps the most special, meal of the year, Passover. And even within the Passover meal, it was a set apart section of that meal when He offered Himself. So, can we do it in the context of a meal? Sure, but the nature of the actual spiritual transfer that takes place in that Eucharistic Sacrament – the real Grace-giving – I think it should happen as a “sanctified” section of that meal. And it doesn’t have to be a meal at all, although it is, spiritually speaking.
In our community, we too pass it around to one another using a common cup. Some drink and some dip, whatever works. I think there is great meaning in that way of doing it. There can also be great meaning in everyone coming up to “one source” as well. There’s a good example of the liturgy being alive and flexible – not too rigid. We’ve done it both ways.
There’s nothing wrong with ritual in itself. Even if it becomes an ordinary part of our lives. That’s not bad. It can still hold real value and be life-giving. Is breathing life-giving? I imagine so, even though we don’t think about it very much. Now, the Eucharist should perhaps be intentionally entered into with more thought and prayer than that – hope that made sense. Grace and Peace to you!
I don’t think I’d say “it’s only a meal” though there’s an aspect of the interaction that happens in a mealtime context that reflects a kind of body-connection that Ron is getting at, which is good. At the same time, like you suggest, Alan, there’s something different about it… it’s not like any other meal. We can err in treating it so “special” that we don’t partake (or don’t partake in ways that are less common to us) and we can err in treating it as so common that we don’t catch the depth of its significance. We need to ascertain which error we’re more prone to, and be on guard against that one in our quest for balance.
One thing from the theology pub discussion last week was about trying to be ecumenical and relate more closely together… and great progress was being made in a particular context, but there was discovered a problem when it was determined that Catholics couldn’t take communion with non-Catholics. Sometimes we really miss the point.
Len: The HTML looks fine to me.
If you are ever in Manchester, England come and join us at the Bethel in Old Trafford for a communal lunch after our breaking of bread service. We find it a good way to extend the fellowship and disscuss spiritual matters while sharing food after being able to put the ‘special’ aspects of communion in a context that most member s find more acceptable. We take it in turns to cook lunch for our congregation of about 70 and it forms another useful lesson in service at the same time
love in Jesus
Peter