Bible Text:

“Do this in remembrance of me.”                                             (Luke 22:19)

United Methodists and other Christians from around the world come to the table today. For 63 years World Communion Sunday has been a global observance. It was formerly known as “Worldwide Communion Sunday,” but if you say it that way you date yourself. Maybe somebody finally discovered the world wasn’t wide, it was round! So it’s now considered a “global” observance. 

Why do we come? Do we know? Do you know? For one thing, we come to own the mystery. Part of what we do here defies explanation. The Chancel Choir sings this morning, “Let all mortal flesh keep silence, and with fear and trembling stand.” There’s something about the presence of Jesus, the presence of God here. Jesus says, “This is my body.” By the word body he means, “This is my self.” He says, “This is the cup of the new covenant.” By that cup he means his life, his lifeblood. So when we receive Communion we receive the self and the life of Jesus. We cannot understand that exactly, but we own the mystery. 

In the Roman Catholic heritage there is even a greater mystery. The Roman Catholic Church calls what happens here “transubstantiation.” They believe that the bread becomes the body of Christ, that the cup of wine becomes the blood of Christ. They celebrate an even deeper mystery. Part of the problem that the Roman Catholic Church is experiencing now is a shortage of priests, especially in the small towns and villages of the developing world. Many are concerned that the faithful will lose the sense of mystery—what happens in the Mass, what happens at Communion. 

As United Methodists we do not believe that anything happens to the bread and the juice in this service, but we do hold the elements sacred. That’s part of why they are covered with a clean white cloth. 

I remember a brouhaha at Jumonville years ago. Someone had served Communion to youth there using cookies and milk. I don’t think God was particularly disturbed by that, but I think it does damage the mystery. 

The Christian tradition is not purely rational. It is not always explainable. There is mystery here. Don’t neglect the element of mystery. Don’t shy away from or discount the mystery. 

We own the mystery and then we remember Jesus. The key text for us may be this: “Do this in remembrance of Me.” (Luke 22:19) This part of what we believe is reflected in the anthem by our Chapel Choir this morning when they sang the anthem by Buryl Red, “In remembrance of me eat this bread; in remembrance of me drink this wine.” 

This is an act of remembering. Eat, drink, and remember. I often say that children are welcome to come to the table in this church if they understand at least this much. We remember and focus upon Jesus at this table. 

A friend of mine says that there’s an ice cream shop in Venezuela that boasts 600 flavors of ice cream. They include such tempting flavors as eggplant, onion, smoked trout, and spinach. As your imagination works overtime trying to figure out what ice cream in those flavors might taste like, try to imagine choosing which flavor you will have out of 600 flavors![i] 

This world has many flavors. Some of them are very tempting. All of us know this. Children and teens know it especially well as they try to choose among so many different offerings and so many different activities in schools and in private life. Many of us have as many as 600 choices. Many of those choices are highly competitive. 

This day we make one choice. We choose to focus upon Jesus. Charles Wesley once wrote in his journal, “I received Communion today, but I did not receive Christ.” Apparently he got so distracted he forgot what was happening at the table. 

Jesus saw the problem. He said to the people around him (and to us), “Will you quit trying to fill your empty lives with busyness, activity, legalisms, or keeping up appearances. If you really want to be filled up in this life, fill up on me. I am the bread of life. Whoever eats of me will never be hungry. 

We celebrate mystery. We remember Jesus. We also get up and move forward. There is movement in this Communion service. It may not sound like much, but it’s important. We come to the table. We step forward. 

In the old cathedrals of Europe, the stone floors allowed for the sound of shuffling footsteps as people walked to the table to receive the sacrament. That architectural feature was no accident. It was intended to be (and still is) a part of the sensory impact of worship. 

I know that in a few churches people sit in pews to receive Communion. The elements are either already there, or they are passed by ushers, deacons, or elders. This is not true in the United Methodist Church. We move forward. If you are unable to come, I come to you. But there is movement. 

There is deeper meaning in the words of invitation than we might realize: “Draw near with faith, and receive this sacrament to your comfort.” 

What really happens at this table? We participate in mystery. We remember Jesus. And we move toward Him at His invitation. 

Communion is as simple and as profound as that.