Sharing the Bread

Where does our tradition come from?

For many, the Holy Eucharist is a well-scripted event, with vestments and music and readings, all leading up to the celebration at the altar table.  There are minor differences from week to week, and there are minor differences from denomination to denomination and even church to church within one denomination, but the similarities are what all these celebrations have in common.

At the heart of it all is the recognition that the bread and wine represent the body and blood of Christ.

Therefore, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols.  I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. - 1 Corinthians 10:14-17

When I read this excerpt this morning I wondered if this is where it all began. Before the Gospels were written, before we had Jesus' words as recalled by the Gospel writers, we had Paul's letters.  And here he asks, as if all would know for certain, isn't the bread we share the body and the cup we share the blood?

You may think it figurative speech, that our sharing of the bread and wine is nothing more than a remembrance, as some of the language we use describes it, but as Paul tells us, partaking in the one bread binds us together as one in Christ.

This is a powerful, willing action we partake in.  We come to the table as individual believers and we leave as one body.

Yesterday in church, I noticed that one of the young women who comes each week as an aide to another, and not as a participant, comes up to the rail for anointing and healing prayers.

During the passing of the peace, I quietly asked her if she was baptized.  She said she was not, so I asked if she wanted to be.  She responded shyly that she was not sure and I offered to talk with her privately when she is ready.

Another woman heard me and said she would like to be baptized.

I share this not to embarrass them, but to explain that I don't know what moved me to ask.  It was not something I normally do, and yet it felt right.

I believe the Holy Spirit moved me to ask, for I saw a woman who yearned for something she didn't have.  I was not pushing my belief on her, but inviting her to come to the table willingly.

This is what we Christians do, when we have the Spirit moving in us.  We share.

So, I ask you, would you be willing to share?

Pray about it.  The Spirit will guide you when you do.

More to come...