We are having communion this morning
I want to truly meet with my brothers and sisters around the Lord's table
I need to look into their eyes as we share the bread and the wine
I want to break one loaf and drink from one cup to demonstrate that we are one body
I long for a real communion with Christ and a real communion with others
I want us together to remember the Lord's death with deep joy and sincere gratitude
I want to eat and drink and receive and be full of Christ
I want to pass the bread and pass the cup from one to another
I want this act to be a corporate proclamation of Christ's death until he comes again
Instead...
We will sit in pews and will be ministered to by the ordained
We will drink from individual small glasses instead of from one cup
We will have small pre-cut squares of bread rather than break a whole loaf
We will participate but only by opening our mouths to eat and drink
We will be less than a handful of individuals dotted around a mostly empty chapel
We will be sat facing the pulpit not gathered around a table
And we won't celebrate this act again until the fourth Sunday of next month
I want to come away feeling full, instead I fear I will leave feeling empty
I long for more than this...
There is a beautiful song written by Claire Cloninger and Martin J Nystrm which sums this up
Come to the table of mercy
Prepared with the wine and the bread
All who are hungry and thirsty
Come and your soul will be fed
Come at the Lord’s invitation
Receive from His nail-scarred hand
Eat of the bread of salvation
Drink of the blood of the Lamb
