As we gather around the Communion table, we’re not just observers; we’re participants in a sacred story. We’re fed, nourished, and sustained by the flesh and blood of Christ, just as our bodies are fed by bread and wine. This sacred meal reminds us that we’re dependent on God, not just as creatures, but as sinners, too. We rely on Jesus for spiritual life, just as we rely on daily bread for physical life.
In this meal, we’re reminded of our union with Christ and the fruit of that union. We come to the bread and wine weary, doubting, fearful, and guilty, but we leave nourished, forgiven, and renewed. Communion is more than a memorial; it’s a means of communion with Christ, where we experience afresh the benefits of his death and resurrection.
As we remember Christ’s sacrifice, we’re not just recalling the past; we’re making the benefits of his death our own. The past becomes a present reality, and we’re assured of the forgiveness of our sins. When we celebrate Communion, we’re calling on God to act in keeping with his covenant promises, asking him to forgive our sins through the blood of Jesus.
This sacred meal shapes our relationships with others, too. It reminds us to practice gratitude, welcome, and generosity in our daily lives. Every meal becomes an occasion for thanksgiving, and every encounter with others becomes an opportunity to proclaim God’s grace.
As we participate in the Lord’s Supper, we’re habituating the gospel, making it instinctive and reflexive. We’re developing a godly character, one that responds to life’s challenges with gospel thinking, choices, and actions. And as we look forward to the final eternal banquet promised by Isaiah, we’re reminded that our communion with Christ is not just a present reality, but a future hope, too.
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