The table of Christ is open to all
September 15th, 2024 – Communion Meditation
I’m not sure when it started, but even before I reached my teenage years, I have been attracted by and drawn ever deeper into the mystery and presence of Christ in Communion, or the Lord’s Supper. For most of my adult life, the churches in which we’ve worshiped only offered this once a month, so Paul and I bought special communion cups for our family so that we could celebrate it at home together on the Sundays when it wasn’t part of our church’s worship service. Communion has always been a central part of our worship services at Liberty Vineyard Church. God has met me deeply during Communion on countless occasions as I have literally tasted and seen that the Lord is good. This partaking of the body and blood of Christ has been much more than symbolic for me for more years than I can remember. In Communion we make ourselves present to God and to one another and receive afresh the gift of God’s restorative and transforming presence.
Whenever and wherever I gather with other believers to worship God, sharing Communion together is the highlight for me. This past Tuesday night, Paul and I had our first experience of The Garden’s Tuesday night event, one of their two weekly gatherings for university students. We had no idea what to expect – it was simultaneously delicious, wacky, deep, awkward, instructive, and fun. I was thrilled, surprised, and grateful that The Event culminated in a celebration of Communion! Later we learned that it was the first time in The Garden’s 8-year history that this had happened. This beautiful community, planted by two leaders, has grown and flourished to include a team of six leaders (and two children), an intern, a few dozen regulars, and many visitors. A brief explanation was given to the group of 40-50 people, some of whom had never been to church or experienced this beautiful sacrament. Each person present was warmly welcomed to participate as desired: “The table of Christ is open to all.” How beautiful it was to dip the bread into the common cup together with precious students from all over the world: “The body of Christ for you.” Each student, as is common to all humanity, is seeking identity, meaning, and purpose. They come to the Garden and find a place of radical hospitality and welcome and are introduced to the radical love of Jesus Christ! As we come to the Table of Communion today, in Christ, with one another, let us receive the grace that we need to fulfill the identity, meaning, and purpose for which God has created us. And then let’s go out nourished and strengthened to share whatever we’ve received with the world around us.
On the night that Jesus was betrayed, he took the bread and said, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” (Eat together)
Again, Jesus took the cup and said, “This is my blood of the new covenant poured out for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” (Drink together)
