Recently I was compelled repeatedly to reflect on the estrangement of communion from its original and real function (just as foot washing is estranged, but hardly practised): It struck me that communion, which gerenally comes at the end of the service, is proclaimed by inviting people to the table of the Lord which is generously set, and afterwards people rush home to have a real meal. Jesus' last supper with his disciples may have been symbolic, but it was a real meal and so was communion in the first generation church. People came to eat to their hunger and they celebrated the communion in the power of the risen Christ. Likewise, the washing of the feet was a common gesture with not only real meaning but real function. Both actions, as gestures and symbols carry beautiful meaning and perhaps power. My contradictory take on this is that while I think that foot washing may promote community and forgiveness, I feel we should reconsider communion or Eucharist as a merely symbolic "meal". For it is no real meal, no real food, we only pretend to have a meal and to eat together. And that's aside from the fact that often the symbolic act is done in a dark, overly sober or sad atmosphere, as if we were reminiscing eternal tragedy. Yet the Lord's table, to which believers are invited, thank God, in reality is rich and full. It is joyful and challenging, conversational and truthful. There is much more than the meager, thin, tasteless and dry bite which could not be further from really nourishing us. Some of our traditions have a sip of wine or juice - again, never enough to quench our thirst after a long and perhaps dry service in a hot room. Why are we not getting real? Perhaps that would be too challenging, to painful, too much breaking our habits of avoiding each other, avoiding truth, relegating reconciliation?
Jesus didn't say to his disciples, eat and drink symbolically, then go home and eat and drink for real. Jesus said, every time you do this - eating and drinking, do it remembering me. Sure, the last supper was the passover meal and as such, symbolic as well. Still, it was for real. Perhaps it is no accident that churches celebrate it only symbolically, pretending to share bread and wine. For in reality, do they really want to share bread and wine? Do they really want to break down the walls and barriers? Do they really want to set in motion the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth? Pretending is so much easier. You don't have to change. You can still feel good. At least you are forgiven and you are not alone. That's a whole lot to get already in a heart breaking, violent world. But is it enough? It is what the church claims to proclaim and to be?
I know, a lot of churches do - occasionally - eat together for real. After having celebrated communion. Eating together is a central and essential part of being human in the world. People eat together with their loved ones, their friends. And occasionally with strangers or those they would not call their friends. In the heavenly world, when friends don't have time to come to the table to celebrate, the strangers, the poor, the undignified ones, get invited. For a real meal, not for pretending. They love it. Speaking of which, that did create some substantial conflict in the early church. The conflict was addressed in a way that has proven sustainable to this day.
Let the church be the church - real and authentic, embodied and tangible. Real people, real food, real sharing, real change. Real faith and real community, wich laughter and tears.
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