Little Lessons: Communion Part 2: Unity in Jesus

A Table sometimes used for the sacrament at the Catholic National Basilica in DC

Every Sunday, Christians unite in sharing a tiny meal they call communion.  While they partake of the Body and Blood of Christ (the bread and wine) they share this ritual with Christians all around the world.  They share it with those believers who look like them and hold doctrinal beliefs similar to their own.  And they share it with Christians who look different from themselves and who belief different things about Jesus, or church or politics than they do.  They are united in this ritual whether or not they mean to be."

In this, they are not unlike Jesus' earliest followers.  Among his closest disciples were a tax collector and a zealot.  One worked for the Roman government, the other wanted to overthrow it violently.  He was followed by some Essenes and Pharisees too. He was followed by fishermen who probably didn't care much for politics or religion.  The Gospels don't record him forcing them to adopt a new set of religious or political beliefs before following him.  Their unity wasn't found in these things, it was found in their attempt to follow Jesus.  Something similar happens at the Communion table.

Communion Table at a Disciples of Christ (Christian) church

When we share communion, we are sharing in the Body of Christ, something Paul says should not be divided.  When we share communion, we are declaring our participation in something greater than ourselves, something greater than our understandings and our misunderstandings.  We're declaring that "I'm a part of this with all of you."  This is why we don't share communion alone.  We're not just communing with God, we're communing with one another.  So much of our communion with God is communion with one another. The symbols we share together don't just represent Christ, they represent the Christ in each of us.

Communion is a ritual that symbolizes our unity with those around us and with those far away.  It even symbolizes our unity with those we struggle to love.  It's a reminder that we share in Jesus together.

For Part 1 in this series, click here.