The Communion in Community
“While they were eating, Jesus took bread and after giving thanks said, ‘take and eat, this is my body.’ And then he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them saying, ‘drink this, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Matthew 26:17–29
This is no longer animal sacrifice for the atonement of sins but living human sacrifice as an example extraordinaire of giving one’s life so that others may be saved. It is full submission to God so that God’s purpose may be established through the miracle of the resurrection. But first, Jesus had to move through the fire of hatred, jealousy, and murderous intent. The human victim denigrated and unjustly treated is the one God raised up.
Eat the body of sacrifice, and drink the blood poured out in remembrance of Jesus’ sacrificial love. It is a ritual of community, and not just a remembrance, but an acknowledgement that God desires sacrifice; “take up your cross and follow me,” Jesus tells us. The way, truth, and life is not the life of easy comfort but one of self-sacrifice so that others may be helped. A community of believers sacrificing abundance so they may generously give — it is kindness to the downtrodden — the ones that are judged so that they may be lifted up, it is getting to know your neighbor so that when a need arises you will be there in the same way you would want their help if you were in need.
“To live in a beloved community takes harmony and a commitment to sharing finite resources in a way that guarantees the dignity of all, meeting the needs of everyone. That harmony we call justice.” Omid Safi, Radical Love
Sometimes the established ritual just becomes a ritual and slowly loses its meaning. As a community of believers, we greet each other on Sundays, but are we intimate enough with our brothers and sisters to know when they need our compassionate love? Is there judgement, and not love? How many in our church communities are isolated and are not offered hospitality? Do we really know our neighbors, the ones in our believing communities?
Take and eat, drink all of you, we must sacrifice the self and ego to compassionately get to know others, to really get to know them, and not just quick conversations after the worship service. However, we have a tendency to socialize only with those of our economic social status or those who are most like us. Jesus hugged a leper before healing him and traveled to the unclean area of Samaria in which the other Jews avoided to speak with a sinful woman thereby restoring her to the community. The untouchables for Jesus were the most in need of touch.
Take up your cross, it's so heavy you can barely move, but look, someone comes to carry the cross the rest of the way to the place where it is finished, but in reality, is only beginning.