Communion.

​Communion
 
     “Do you know what communion is?” My husband leveled a gaze at Sweet Pea. My daughter’s sober brown eyes blinked with contemplation. We sat at the breakfast table with waffles staring up at us in sticky anticipation and bated breath. The topic of Good Friday service peppered our conversation. With the social distancing mandate, our church had creatively orchestrated a Good Friday online service. Even with each family sheltering in place, communion would still be observed together as the body of Christ.
     My husband and I sat waiting for Sweet Pea’s reply. Her answer was of particular importance. Sweet Pea had just asked to partake in communion.

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​This past summer, although she had accepted Jesus into her heart, we still did not allow her to join in with the elements. We did this partly to protect her from partaking in the Lord’s Supper an unworthy fashion. However, in full disclosure, the main reason that we had not allowed Sweet Pea to partake was that the thought had never crossed our minds.
     Sweet Pea looked at us from across the table. Her eyes were somber and serious.
     “Communion is a special time to remember Jesus.” She locked eyes with her father. A solemn expression graced her usually smiling features. Sweet Pea paused a moment, her eyes thoughtful.
     “It’s also a special time for everyone to think about Jesus.” Sweet Pea’s gazed remained fixed on my husband. His blue eyes widened in surprise. My own jaw dropped at the simplicity of her answer. Somehow, she had encapsulated both the personal and corporate parts of communion into 2 short sentences. Yet it was the simplicity of her answer which struck me and gave me pause.
     Moments before, I struggled with disappointment. Although thankful for the creative solutions our pastoral team provided, the online option left me hungering to physically partake in communion as one body gathered together in one place. Yet, the moment Sweet Pea uttered her words, a veil ripped off my eyes. New understanding dawned.
     Communion is a time where the body of Christ corporately gathers to reflect upon Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf that we may be reconciled to the Father. It is an observance of the Last Supper that Christ shared with His disciples. Just as Jesus broke the bread and drank the wine, so also do we the same.
     Traditionally, communion is also known as the Eucharist. Derived from the Greek, it means, “thanksgiving.” How fitting this translation is as Communion often cultivates a heart of thanksgiving and gratitude as we remember and recount Christ’s sacrifice.
     Chastened and convicted by Sweet Pea’s words, my protesting spirit fell silent. In my disappointment, I had overlooked the true purpose of Communion. Yes, we gather together as the body of Christ to corporately remember. Yes, we gather for our own personal remembrances and reflections. But, most importantly of all, we gather to commune with God.
     The Lexicographer Dictionary defines communion as, “the sharing and exchanging of intimate thoughts and feelings…” In other words, for true communion to occur, acts and instances of intimate sharing with God must first take place. Unfortunately, a person could eat of the bread and drink of the wine yet not experience true communion because their hearts are not engaged with Jesus or are closed to God. In fact, the Bible tells us that if a person partakes of the elements in an unworthy manner, then he eats and drinks judgement upon himself. Therefore, one can assume an individual who engages with communion in action only but does not engage in mind, body, and soul, will cause judgement to befall him.
     I sat in stunned silence with new revelation and understanding. No longer did I need bemoan our inability to gather in person on this Good Friday anymore; because, though the physical congregating of the church together as the body of Christ is an important aspect of communion, it is not the most essential element. What matters most is the intimate fellowship we share with God. What matters most is our heart.
     In the evening, as the three of us congregated in front of the television to listened to our Good Friday service, my heart no longer struggled. Although, I missed seeing and gathering with my brothers and sisters in the Lord, I no longer felt its weight. It could no longer pull me down. Yes, the service streamed into our individual homes, but we were still connected as one in the body of Christ regardless of our location or proximity. Yes, the live feed buffered and paused, but our voices still lifted as one in worship to the Heavenly King. Yes, we watched the service from our individual homes but the Word of God permeated the sound waves, joining us all together under one baptism and one Truth.
     Although the Lord’s Supper could not be physically observed together in person, true communion occurred. Communion in praise. Communion with worship. Communion through the Word of God. Communion beyond the breaking of the bread and the drinking of the wine. Communion through our genuine gratitude to Jesus for the ransom He paid. Communion through an intimate time of sharing and presence with the Lord. Communion with God. Communion.
     Dearest friends and parents may each one of you experience true communion with God this Easter weekend. Whether or not we can break the bread or drink the cup together in person, may we still sup with each other through an intimate drawing near to God, and a heart of gratitude to Jesus for His sacrifice, and a spirit of rejoicing as we celebrate Jesus’s resurrection! This Easter Sunday, may we all join together in one voice, as one people, in praises to the Lord our God for what He has done for us. Death is defeated. Sin is conquered. The grave has lost its sting. Hallelujah! He is risen. He is risen, indeed!