Communion is a real gift to the church and to the Christian life. I’m not exactly sure of all that Jesus intended when he gave us this sacrament. Nor am I sure how God would hope this act would be used by Jesus’ followers today. But it is a rich part of our worship tradition. 

I know that Communion means a great deal to many of you. You come often, and you come thankfully. For others of you, Communion is a part of what we as Christians do. You participate, but may not give it a whole lot of deep thought. There are a few people for whom Communion is probably misunderstood. And there are another few (those who are not here today) for whom Communion is something to be avoided. 

I remember reading a story about a minister who worked one day a month at a soup kitchen for homeless men. After he served bread and soup at lunchtime, he would offer to hold a Communion service in the little chapel in the homeless center. One day he had an experience there he would never forget. As he was moving down the line to serve Communion to the men, he came to one man who put up his hand and said, “Not me, reverend.” 

“Why not?” the minister responded. 

“Because I’m not worthy.” 

“Neither am I worthy,” came the reply. “I’ll tell you what. I’ll finish serving the rest of the men Communion, then I’ll come back to you and serve you Communion, and then you will serve me Communion.” 

Looking very startled, the man said “Reverend, is that legal?”

“Yes, it’s legal,” he replied. 

Whereupon he moved on down the line and served the rest of the men the Communion sacraments. When he was finished he came back to the man who was still there. He knelt down in front of him. “What’s your name?” he asked. 

“My name is Josh.” 

The minister took the bread and cup and said, “Josh, the body and blood of Jesus, given for you. Eat and drink and be thankful.” 

Then he handed Josh the plate of bread and the cup. “Now you serve me,” he said. 

“Reverend, are you sure this is legal?” 

“Yes, it’s legal.” 

The homeless man looked around as though perhaps to be suddenly arrested by the police or the FBI or the CIA or maybe even the pope. Then he held out the bread and the plate to the minister and said, “Eat and drink, and hang in there.” 

The minister reported that he had never been served Communion that way before. But he thought he had also never had a more holy moment. 

Communion is a holy moment. It is a sacred, nurturing meal. It is sacred and nurturing in some very important ways. 

PUTS YOUR LIFE IN PERSPECTIVE 

First of all, this sacrament puts your life in perspective. There’s a great deal of uncertainty around us right now, and you and I cannot help be affected. How high will fuel prices go? Will we eventually run out of oil? What effect will rising prices have on food or jobs or the economy or Christmas spending? How many more hurricanes are we going to have this season? Can we stand any more hurricanes? Will I need to change my lifestyle? Should I change it? 

Jesus puts it all in perspective. “Take this bread. Drink from this cup. I am still what life is mostly about.” 

BRINGS COMFORT AND HOPE 

This nurturing meal also brings comfort and hope. The losses keep coming for many of us: the loss of relationship, the loss of mobility, the loss of employment. The unexpected departure of a spouse when a marriage crumbles into ruin. The loss of a loved one to the mystery of death. Sometimes we can’t seem to see the light at the end of the tunnel. 

Jesus says, “Do this as often as you will, in remembrance of me. Remember and have hope.” 

STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY 

This nurturing meal also gives strength for the journey. I know many of you who come to this table because you leave feeling stronger inside. You’re not sure why or how you feel stronger, but you do. 

That’s part of the mystery in this sacrament. I am reasonably sure that this is why John Wesley made sure he received Communion at least twice each week. It is also the reason why Communion is available at least four times each week here at Christ Church. 

I will always remember a woman who came to me one August day a number of years ago. She asked me a simple question: “When is the next Communion?” I thought for a moment and said, “Well, probably the next Communion will be on World Communion Sunday, the first Sunday of October.” Came her reply, “I can’t wait that long.” I shared Communion with her within the hour. She needed strength right then and there. 

The mystery of the sacrament is that it brings strength for the journey. 

HEALING FOR A BROKEN WORLD 

This nurturing meal also brings healing for a broken world. All across the world this morning there are many broken places. The African nation of Zimbabwe is a broken country. You’ve read the news; you know the stories. Yet in and around the Nyadire United Methodist Hospital compound today, men and women have come together to share the bread and the cup. It is a sacrament of healing for a broken world. Martha Orphe, our district superintendent, was in Nyadire for a while this past summer. She said to me over lunch this week, “I have never seen such a deep faith as I saw among the people of Nyadire.” 

The Gulf Coast states at home have been ripped apart by two hurricanes. Churches have been destroyed, including many United Methodist churches. It is now estimated that in Texas, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana, an estimated 175 United Methodist pastors have been displaced. They have no home. They have no church. And their congregations have been shattered and scattered. Yet I am also reasonably certain that all across that region this morning—in fire halls, in schools, perhaps in tents, perhaps even in open fields—there are clergy who stand with the cup and the bread and say to those people, “Take and eat. Take and drink. This is a sacrament given for you.” 

Communion is a mystery that brings healing for a broken world. It is a sign of that healing. 

This is a nurturing meal. You and I, who are so blessed, so removed from some of the devastation in our world, may not appreciate it as much as others do. We may not fully comprehend the power. We may not quite know the depth to which this act can move us. But you and I come. Come to the most nurturing meal we know. 

Come, and allow God’s enduring sign of great love to put your life in perspective. Allow God to bring you comfort and hope. Allow God to give you new strength for the journey. Come believing that God can bring healing to the broken places in our world. 

Draw near in faith to receive this sacrament today with thanksgiving.