Devotional Messages

DEVOTIONAL MESSAGE

I Corinthians 11:27-29:  Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be answerable for the body and blood of the Lord.  Examine yourselves, and only then eat the bread and drink of the cup. For all who eat and drink without discerning the body, eat and drink judgment against themselves. (NRSV)

Disciples of Christ really like communion.  We like it so much that we do it every week and sometimes more.  And mostly, that means we like the scriptures about communion too.  But as it turns out, this particular passage is one that Disciples don’t often use.  Instead, it is emphasized in traditions that offer communion only very rarely, because they interpret it to mean that we’re not worthy to receive it most of the time.

So I was very grateful to hear a new interpretation a few years ago, from our former General Minister & President Sharon Watkins.  Far too often, interpretations of these verses focus on the  “unworthy manner” and “examine yourselves” parts, and not enough on the “discerning the body” part.  But if we look at the context in which Paul shares this admonition, we can see that the “discerning the body” part is exactly the point.

Paul has been writing to the Corinthians about being more considerate and generous with one another, especially to make sure they’re sharing meals equally, rather than the rich feasting and the poor coming to worship with grumbling tummies.  This is the sort of unworthy manner he’s concerned with.  His point is that we can’t make the Lord’s Supper an individualized ritual.  It’s not a private date with Jesus, but rather a family feast, where there’s always room for more at the table.  Indeed, we shouldn’t be feasting there at all without an awareness of everyone else at the table and those who are going hungry.

This is an important lesson to remember as we approach World Communion Sunday.  We will gather at the Table this weekend, along with Christians all around the world.  And it must matter to us that many of those Christians will barely have enough to eat the rest of the week, for they are part of the same Body as we are.  It must matter to us how they are hurting, for we are one Body in our one Lord.  Let us commit ourselves to celebrating this meal of unity in a manner worthy of the global Body of Christ!