My beloved brother, my beloved sister
May 31st, 2026 – Communion Meditation
Christians in the early church and down through the ages have used a variety of terms to refer to one other, including believer, saint, disciple, the flock, the fold, the fellowship, the faithful, the body of Christ. But by far the most common term found in Scripture and in the early church was brother and sister, reflecting that we are the family of God. All of these terms describe the beauty of our shared journey as followers of Jesus on the way of love. And all of these terms promotes unity because they describe all Christians, whether an individual or group leans this way or that on a particular doctrine, belief, or issue.
There are sadly many other terms that are not found in either Scripture or church history that have crept into the vocabulary of some Christians to describe fellow Christians in rather derogatory ways. Some of these terms might seem milder than others, for example, Bible thumper, charismaniac, cafeteria Christian, frozen chosen, fundie, or holy roller.
Other terms are very divisive political labels that have been tragically applied by Christians to brothers and sisters in Christ. In our day, these seem to be slung about with such frequency and vitriol and sarcasm and even glee that we might easily numb out and forget how damaging these labels really are. I am not going to even mention any of them here because they’re just hate-filled and ugly. But we all know what they are. A single label hurled like a flaming arrow of accusation against someone perceived to be on “the other side” can cause blood pressure to rise, offense to flare up, and angry outbursts to ensue.
John 13:35 tells us that Jesus said, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Later, the apostle John assures us in one of his letters that the way we know that we are Christians, the way we know that God lives in us is if we love one another. 1 John 4:12a,16b – “If we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us … God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.” Our words matter. As sisters and brothers to all who follow Christ and as representatives of Christ to the world, let us be careful to love one another in our words as well as in our works.
Communion reminds us of our true identity and allegiance. We come to the table of communion, first and foremost, as God’s beloved children in God’s family! There is one bread and one cup for all. We belong to God, and we belong to one another, as Romans 12:5 reminds us – “We, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another.” Each and every Christian, whether we think they lean too far one way or another, whether they vote the way we think they should or not, whether we think they act weird sometimes, each and every one of them is our sibling in Christ. We are not called to doctrinal agreement or uniformity. We are called to love and unity. As we receive the elements today, let us receive the grace we sorely lack and resolve to choose self-giving love whenever we hear a hate-filled label. Let us be determined each and every time to respond in our hearts and with our mouths with an affirmation that this is my beloved brother, my beloved sister in Christ whom I am called to love as God loves me.
At the Last Supper, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to those with him and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” When you come forward, you will be given a piece of bread along with the words, “The body of Christ broken for you.”
Jesus then took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” When you come forward, you will also be given a cup into which to dip the bread, along with the words, “The blood of Christ poured out for you.”
I invite you now to come forward to receive the elements. Jesus Christ is present here with us. Let us celebrate the presence of the Lord and the body of Christ as we eat and drink together!
