Why We do not want communion in an age of Covid-19

The Lord’s supper, Communion, or Eucharist is a sacrament of God’s grace given to the church. In this meal the church shares together in the work of Jesus of breaking his own body and shedding his own blood as a way of restoring each of us from our selfishness.

His broken body and blood are the way he begins the process of moving our short sighted appetites for pleasure toward what is more fulfilling and meaningful to human creatures – living as human creatures were made to live – in right relationship with the creator.

But early on in the story we were told, “it is not good for man to be alone.”  In the story, the first community is the husband and wife from whom spring larger families.  But in the New Testament there is another family created, the church.  Made to be the people of God, a new kingdom of human families.  The church is called first to live the way humans were made to live.  Second, for the purpose of God’s kingdom coming to earth.

This thing we call the church is the group that was given this meal we call communion.  This meal is not for each of us, it is for this one thing we call the church, the people of God.

We need one another.  The meal is for us.  We exist not for ourselves, but for each other.

I read something someone wrote recently about wanting to not “be a burden” on others.  Even before covid 19 we lived in an isolated and lonely world.  No one wants to be a burden, no one wants to depend on someone else.  We want to be independent and self-sufficient.  Our status as an individual often forms the basis of our identity.

Think about the questions “Who are you?” and  “What do you do?”  Do your usual answers begin with your family of origin?  Your co-workers? Your church family?  Probably not.  You begin to think of yourself, not as a member of a community, but as an individual who perhaps is connected to a community.

I would argue that this is a result of the fallen world influencing the ways we think.

When Adam was lonely, it was “not good.”  This is not the normal state we were made to live in.  It was only “very good” when humanity was community.  Adam was a part of a pair.  We are a part of a church.

In recent years it has become common to think of communion as an intimate and sacred act that exists between the individual and Jesus.  It has been taught and practiced this way.  If this were what communion was, we would be right to eat bread and drink wine every day in quarantine and say we have participated in a sacred ritual.

But this is not what communion is.

Communion is a meal shared with those that we are willing to burden.  Communion is a meal we eat with those whom we are willing to depend upon.

Some Americans have walked through the days of Covid 19 with nowhere to turn.  Some have lost jobs, family members, and income while secluded, lonely, and helpless.  It is not good that man should be alone.  This should never be the case for those in the church.

We have a new family.  We have brothers, sisters, fathers, and mothers in the family that God has given to us.  Let us honor that and hunger for the day – not too long from now – when we will be able to gather together and eat the meal given to us by our Lord and King.

If you are reading this and you are a part of that community, then hunger for that day with me.  If you are reading this and you are not a part of that community, our doors will reopen soon, and we will feast together.  You are welcome to join us for that meal.