When we are stripped of all of the extra things we own or use we are just people, human beings who will either rise to the challenge or crumple up in defeat. It’s been that way for thousands of years, there is truly nothing new under the sun. 

Communion; what image does that word invoke in your thoughts? For me, my mind’s eye is instantly filled with a picture of people sitting stiffly in pews, many bowed over until they look as though folded in half, all swallowing down a fingertip sized piece of bread and downing a thimbleful of grape juice like a shot. (Made even more realistic when the grape juice has been in that church fridge a little too long…)

What was really happening at the first communion supper? Friends and brothers were reclining at a table. Talking, laughing and loving each other. Then their teacher told them what he was about to do and asked them to remember him. The above paragraph is how I’ve seen us choose to do that.

I was talking with a close friend last night and we were discussing the ever messy subject of church. We specifically focused on communion and worship. Are we “communing” the way that Jesus intended? When we all bow our heads and sit there feeling guilty for what Jesus did on the cross before we take our little juice shot, glare either perceivably or inwardly at those who dare to make noise whilst we are participating in our ritual and somehow we are conceiving that this little 7 minute period of communion and communication with God will make up for the rest of the week when we ignored him…?

We take communion every Sunday; some congregations take it once a month. I don’t think that there is a right or a wrong way here. I am just asking why. Why do you take communion? I honestly take it out of habit and I have a feeling that I am not the only one. But this is pointless, if that’s all I’m going to do then why take it at all? I must admit that I like those little bread things and I always want to eat a handful instead of one, but if all it comes to is a tasty little snack and shot in the middle of church then what’s the point? What have I (or we?) lost or am missing that is of so much importance?

Or, did God never fully intend for us to make an annual ritual out of this? He said, “Whenever you eat this bread or drink this cup, do it in remembrance of me.” Since that was probably the normal food at the time they didn’t need to set aside a special time to drink wine and eat bread, they probably remembered him more often and differently than we do. We don’t have to go back to the old ways but I don’t like this way either. It seems very, very cold.

Thoughts please?