“What Is Communion?” (Luke 22:14-20) - Back to Basics I -

Memorable Meal

What is the most memorable meal you've ever had? What were your most memorable meals growing up? For me personally, my most memorable meals were “egg rice” – a rice bowl with fried egg, soy sauce, and kimchi as a side dish. I often had this simple meal when I was young. At that time my parents just planted a new church, and we didn’t have a parsonage. So we lived in the church building for the first few years. We ate humble meals – most of the time, egg rice. But I never felt we were poor. My mother was a good cook and fixed a meal with a non-anxious presence. I loved egg rice. I loved the atmosphere at the family meal table. I felt happy and content. Now we live far away from each other – my parents, my sister, and I. But still, we stay connected emotionally.

I have another memorable meal, which is Communion. Some of us in this room may wonder, “What is Communion? Why does it matter?” During the summer months (July and August), I plan to preach a sermon series, “Back to Basic.” We will explore important topics we often take for granted, such as “What is Communion? What is baptism? What is the church?” etc. As we celebrate Communion today, we will explore what Communion is and why it matters to us.

In Christian tradition there are different names used for Communion, including Eucharist, the Lord’s Supper, and Holy Communion.

 

Eucharist

First, Eucharist. The word Eucharist is a Greek word that means “to give thanks.” On the night when Jesus was betrayed, he took bread and gave thanks to God, and he broke it and said, “This is my body,” and he took a cup of wine and said, “This is my blood.” It was the last meal Jesus shared with his disciples. It was Passover meal. Jesus said, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.” (v. 14)

On the night when God liberated his people from slavery in Egypt, he commanded them to slaughter the Passover lamb, to take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts. God commanded them to eat the Passover lamb that night in a hurry. And God promised that he would pass over them and spare their lives when he saw the blood (cf. Exodus 12). Since then, every year, every Passover the Israelites commemorated and ate the Passover meal to remember and to give thanks.

Jesus became the Passover Lamb. Every time we gather and share this meal, bread, and grape juice, we remember. We give thanks to God for what he has done, what he is doing, and what he will do for us. When Jesus shared the last meal with his disciples, he was strengthened to stay the course and finish the race. In the same way, when we eat this shared meal by faith, our souls are restored, strengthened, nourished for the upcoming journey. Through communion, we experience God’s grace, God’s power, and God’s presence. Communion is God’s guaranteed channel to receive his grace. That’s why it’s called “means of grace.” When we eat Eucharist (thanksgiving meal), we are sustained and transformed.

 

The Lord’s Supper

Second, the Lord’s Supper. Communion as the Lord’s Supper comes from Paul’s description in 1 Corinthians 11. At that time there were divisions among the Corinthian church members. The powerful and rich people shamed the poor. Some went hungry while others got drunk. Paul warns and reminds them that it is not our meal, but Christ’s meal – the Lord’s Supper. We are not the host of the meal, but Jesus is our host.

A few years ago Bishop’s Day was held at one of the churches in our district. Our former Bishop Sudah and pastors were all gathered. The conversations were hard and intense. At the end of the meeting Bishop Sudah arranged the time to ask for forgiveness to each other – one by one. We made one big circle and were asked to say to each partner, “Please forgive me if I offended you.” At first, it was very awkward. But then, a heartfelt apology was made, and a heart-to-heart conversation started. The Bishop had to stop our conversations. After that, we served communion to one another. All of sudden, we realized that we are not the host, but we are all invited to the same table - Christ’s meal – as a guest. We are not head, but Jesus is the head of the church.

When we come to the Lord’s Supper, we remember God always takes initiatives, inviting us and coming to us first. When we come to the Lord’s Supper, we say “Yes” to God’s invitation. Coming to the Lord’s Supper is like responding to an altar call, saying, “Lord Jesus, I repent. I believe.”

 

Holy Communion

Lastly, Holy Communion. The word Communion comes from a Latin word that means a community that has something in common – a shared identity. In the early church community people shared everything in commons, including meals. “All who believed were together and had all things in common… day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts” (Acts 2:44, 46). At first communion (breaking of bread) was part of an ordinary meal (called the Love Feast). Members would hold out their hands and receive bread, then they would take a drink from a common cup of wine. The early church community was diverse. There were Jews and Gentiles, slaves and frees, males and females. Every time they gathered around the holy communion table, they confirmed and reinforced their shared identity. “We are one in Christ.”

Recently, I had a chance to watch an autobiographical film, Celine Dion: I Am. Who is Celine Dion? She is a Grammy award-winning singer. In the prime of life she was diagnosed with stiff person syndrome. It’s a rare, progressive, and complex neurological disorder. One out of a million people suffers from this syndrome that causes seizures and spasms. So Celine Dion couldn’t sing and had to cancel all scheduled concerts. She had to ask herself an identity question, “Who am I – when I can’t sing?” She started from where she was standing – at the bottom. She relearned to sing as a patient.

Where does she find her identity and strength in times of trouble? Celine Dion says family is her foundation. She is from a large family. She has 13 siblings and very dedicated parents. When her world was shaken, her family became a great source of strength and resilience. We may or may not have a strong family bond. But all of us in this room belong to a better and stronger family - one new community in Christ. When we share bread and juice, we find our shared identity and strength in Christ. We are one in Christ. We are loved.

 

Life of Discipleship

At the Church of the Multiplication in Holy Land, the traditional site of the feeding of the 5000, there is a mosaic of a basket of bread and two fish underneath the altar. If you look closely, you will see only four loaves of bread. One is missing. But it is believed that is the artist’s intentional message. The fifth loaf of bread is the one used for communion liturgy.

At the communion table, we are nourished. We are strengthened. We are united. We are loved. We find our identity and strength. But at the same time, at the communion table, we are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus. We are sent out. We are responsible for feeding the people among us and around us.  

 

Blest be the tie that binds
our hearts in Christian love;
the fellowship of kindred minds
is like to that above.

As we celebrate communion this morning, may our Christian bond and unity be strengthened. May our hearts go out to the lost and invite them to Christian fellowship.