Reflection 

The reading today from John’s gospel is gives us some particular insights into the meaning and significance of Holy Communion and we will think about that shortly. First here a few facts about the sacrament. Christians from other traditions may describe this sacrament as either the Eucharist, which means thanksgiving or the simply as the Lord’s Supper. In our communion liturgy, as a protestant church and more particularly the UCA there are words that need to be said and I will explain these as we partake in communion today. (hold up UiW2)

Getting back to today’s gospel reading did you notice how full it is of I in you and you in me type statements?

Have another look through the reading and you will see what I mean.

Jesus in his prayer is describing an intimate relationship that is as close as can be, a bond of souls, a sharing of presence and being. Whether Jesus refers to this bond as between himself and God or between himself and us the phrase “my beloved is mine and I am his” rings true. It describes perfectly the way in which we relate to the Holy Trinity, not as fearful participants in the relationship but as dear to God as children are to their loving mothers and fathers.

According to the Merriam Webster dictionary the definition of communion is first, “an act or instance of sharing”, secondly the sacrament of the Christian church, thirdly it can describe an “intimate relationship or rapport” and lastly a body of Christians who share a common faith. I think that the sacrament of Holy Communion fits all those definitions. I am particularly struck by the phrase an “instance of sharing”; you will hear me say within the communion liturgy the phrase “The bread we break is sharing in the body of Christ” and “The cup we take is a sharing in the blood of Christ”.

In our denominations founding document the Basis of Union the sacrament of communion does provides for four outcomes; first, through the Holy Spirit we have communion with Christ, secondly we make our praise and thanksgiving as a symbol of giving ourselves to Christ, a spiritual sacrifice, thirdly we grow together into Christ, meaning we become Christ minded or as Paul states, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” (Galatian 2:20). Fourthly, we are strengthened for participation in the mission of Christ in the world and lastly, we rejoice in the foretaste of the Kingdom which Christ will bring to consummation. Phew that’s a lot of things going on at the one time.

I admitted to you all a few weeks ago that in the past I would mentally be doing my grocery list in my head during communion or perhaps going over the chores of the week ahead. It’s fortunate that it is through God’s grace and power that all the blessings of communion are possible not due to how good we are at concentrating or even understanding what is going.

Today I will stop and explain some of the symbolic words and actions throughout our sacrament and my hope is that it either reawakens your love for Holy Communion or at least helps you pay attention next time. One of the things I try to do when putting together the words of the communion service is to mesh the theme of the reading and its proclamation into the written order. It is something of a coincidence or is it a god- incidence that today’s reading from John provides such a beautiful entry point into the holy sacrament.

Jesus asks us to remember him in the sacrament for our sake, for our spiritual nourishment, he is not simply being sentimental. Interestingly in John’s gospel Jesus shows his friends how to remember him by washing their feet and giving them a demonstration of self-sacrificing love. But don’t worry we will not be washing each other’s feet today, so relax. After the foot washing episode in John’s gospel Jesus prays for his friends and for us too; because we have believed because of his followers words and witness. The good news this text proclaims is that no matter what we face in life, Christ is with us, we are not alone. Jesus is with us every step of the way though the presence of the Holy Spirit, with us in the green pastures and the dark valleys, even through death to new life. Jesus is the one who shows us how to live to be our most Christlike selves and how to die to our own ego and selfishness.