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I grew up with a long
tradition about communion. It was not a particularly
deep tradition; but it was durable. I vividly remember
the communion services in my home church. The
traditions with which I grew up? Four communion
services a year plus maybe one on Ash Wednesday or
Maundy Thursday! I grew up believing that it said
somewhere, “A good Methodist will not take communion
more than four times a year.”
The reason for this--at
least as I imagined or concluded--was that frequency
lessens its meaning. Too much communion dims the light
and subdues the power. If we receive it too often we
have too little real involvement.
But 26 years at Christ
Church has changed my mind. I have been changed
deeply and permanently. I have learned from some of
you who have taught me so much.
I receive communion with
the congregation every Saturday night. I
receive communion with the staff each Tuesday
morning. I observe it with you New Year’s Eve or New
Year’s Day and Ash Wednesday. And I receive it with
you on days such as this one.
Why do you come to the
Table today? Why do I come? Let me answer that
question briefly.
BECAUSE JESUS SAID TO DO
SO
First, I come because Jesus
said to do so. That may sound a little abrupt, but for
me, this is the key. I tend to take most of my cues
for life from Jesus. I value the Old Testament. I
appreciate Paul and other New Testament writers. But
my deepest commitment and direction comes from Jesus
of Nazareth. His word, his ways, his priorities, his
lifestyle gives me direction. Jesus says, “Do this as
often as you will…”
I read about a nationwide
poll a few years ago. The question was asked, “What
words or phrases do you most like to hear spoken to
you? What do you like to hear sincerely and honestly?”
Can you guess the answers? The first one of course was
“I love you.” The second was, “You are forgiven” or “I
forgive you.” But do you know what the third one was?
The third word or phrase people most like to hear
spoken is this, “Supper is ready.”
“Supper is ready.” This is
Jesus’ unsurpassed invitation. I come to this table
because He calls me, because he invites me. “Eat this.
Drink this”, He says.
Sometimes ministers get
rituals mixed up inadvertently. I read about a Baptist
clergy who was about to immerse a man in Baptism and
said to the person, “Drink ye all of this and be
thankful.”
I drink all of this. I eat
this because Jesus invites me. Because Jesus
encourages me.
BECAUSE IT IS A
REMEMBRANCE
Secondly, I do this because
it is a remembrance. Jesus says, “Do this as often as
you will in remembrance of me.”
Much of the reason we
gather weekly for worship is to remember. This worship
service is an act of remembrance. Every worship
service is an act of remembrance. Here we remember our
history, our story, our tradition, and our values. We
remember what is finally important.
It is tough to stay focused
today. Paul says in one of his letters, “Do not let
the world squeeze you into its own mold.” (see Romans
12) But that is exactly what happens. We are molded by
secular forces, by schedules and by other priorities.
In a time of unprecedented abundance in America, the
world squeezes us into its own mold.
Communion brings us back.
Communion reminds me of who I am and why I am here and
to whom I belong. Communion clears the murky fog for
me one more time
“Do this as often as you
will…” To stay focused, to remember. We come here to
recall and to be refreshed of the greatest story ever
told. We come to the table to remember the One who is
at the center of that story.
BECAUSE IT IS A WITNESS
Thirdly, I come to the
table today because it is a witness. Especially today
it is a witness. It is a world witness. Eat
this, drink this all of you.
On a hot day, two small
girls were selling lemonade outside their home. A
neighbor wanted to help them out. He stopped and
bought a cup of lemonade. As he stood there talking to
the girls and drinking the lemonade, one of them said,
”Are you finished yet?” “Why?”, the neighbor asked.
The little girl replied, “Because we only have one
cup.”
We have one loaf and one
cup today. Powerful symbols after 2000 years. Today
may not make headlines in the city newspapers. Today
may not grab the attention of news anchors. Today may
not show up on the internet news or web blogs. But it
is a powerful witness.
Here in our corner of the
South Hills of Pittsburgh we come to the table.
Christians from displaced congregations in southern
Louisiana, come to the table. In the gathered
congregation in Nydaire, Zimbabwe, they come to the
table. In house churches, in chapels, and in
cathedrals, Christians come to partake.
There is abundant mystery
here to be sure. I do not try to explain or even
fathom the mystery. All I know is that the church of
Jesus Christ has been doing this for nearly 2000 years
and we have been doing it on this date (the 1st
Sunday in October) since 1941.
Together with a worldwide
community of believers we come. We R.S.V.P. to Jesus’
invitation. We remember Him and our faith story. We
witness to an act that binds us and strengthens us and
nurtures us.
Come today. Come believing
that in this simple act there is a power greater than
you know.
Amen.
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