Communion

I grew up celebrating the Lord's supper once a year - on Easter Sunday. The deacons would assemble at the front of the church and the pastor would pray and then they would pass out the silver trays holding little teeny tiny wafers and trays with tiny cups of grape juice. That, of course, was always my favorite. The miniature cup of grape juice. I would wait in anticipation til the end of the service so that I could run around with my friends stacking as many tiny cups as I could and comparing my stack to theirs. At least that is what I remember about communion. It was important, it was solemn, it was seldom and it consisted of food and drink in miniature form.

Of course, the older I have gotten, my understanding of the Lord's supper has changed. I used to think I was making a commitment or something. Like when I took the bread and drank the cup I was telling God I would do my best to serve and remember Him. I was going to try harder to be a better Christian.

But when Jesus says in Luke 22:19, ""This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." He isn't saying, take and now serve me; or take and now be a better person. No, He is saying, this is my body, given for you - it is my grace being poured out so that you can have true life. He lived the perfect life, He laid down his life, and He did this so that we wouldn't have to. We couldn't have done what He did so He did it because He loves us.

We take communion every week at our church. And for the past several months, members have been making the bread that is shared. August has been my month to make it, and I have really enjoyed it. It has made me more mindful - of the simplicity of bread, of its nourishment and source of fuel for the body.  "Give us this day, our daily bread..."
I am thankful that we celebrate the Lord's supper every week and not just at Easter. I am thankful to be reminded of the gospel week in and week out. I am thankful to honor what Christ did on the cross because it means new life; it means grace and mercy. It means forgiveness and new beginnings. And not just at salvation, the gospel is for every day, it is how we are being transformed. By remembering what He did on the cross and beholding His glory, we are being made more like Him.

"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." 2 Cor 3:18

How about you? How often does your church celebrate the Lord's supper?