As I reflect on my recent completion of a course in Worship Theology, I am filled with a profound sense of transformation and inspiration, particularly regarding the sacrament of Holy Communion. This course has deepened my understanding of worship as a holistic experience that engages not only our minds and spirits but also our bodies and communities. Through the study of scripture, historical practices, and theological insights, I have come to appreciate Holy Communion not merely as a ritual but as a living testament to our shared faith, unity, and connection to Christ. This sacrament invites us to remember, reflect, and reimagine our role in the body of Christ—encouraging us to engage with our communities, honor diverse experiences, and embrace the powerful narratives that shape our worship. My journey through this course has ignited a passion within me to approach Communion with renewed reverence and a deeper commitment to its life-giving significance.
Introduction:
Good morning, beloved community. Today, as we gather for communion, we are invited into a sacred space—one where we remember and celebrate the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In Matthew 26:26-31, we find the poignant account of Jesus sharing his last meal with his disciples. This moment transcends time and culture, as it serves as a foundation for our identity as a community of faith. Today, I want to reflect on this text through a Womanist lens, honoring the voices and experiences of women, particularly Black women, while emphasizing the communal aspects of our faith.
I. Breaking the Bread of Tradition
In Matthew 26:26, Jesus takes the bread, blesses it, and breaks it. This action is layered with meaning; it signifies nourishment, sacrifice, and community. The concept of breaking bread holds special significance for women who have historically held the roles of nurturers in their families and communities. In many cultures, women prepare and share meals, serving not only as caregivers but also as spiritual leaders in their households.
Verse Breakdown: "Take, Eat; This Is My Body"
In Matthew 26:26, we encounter a pivotal moment during the Last Supper when Jesus takes bread, gives thanks, breaks it, and feeds it to His disciples. This simple yet profound act serves as the heart of what we now understand as the Eucharist or Holy Communion.
Taking and Giving Thanks
Jesus' gesture of taking the bread and giving thanks underscores His acknowledgment of God’s providence. The act of giving thanks (or "blessing" the bread, as some translations reflect) highlights the importance of gratitude in worship and community. Jesus models for His disciples a way of engaging with food that transcends mere consumption; it becomes an act laden with spiritual significance.
In the context of the Jewish Passover meal, the act of blessing the bread resonates deeply with the tradition of recognizing God’s deliverance and faithfulness. The bread used at the Last Supper links back to the manna provided to the Israelites in the desert and the unleavened bread of the Exodus—symbols of sustenance and divine provision. Thus, Jesus’ thanksgiving serves not only as acknowledgment of God’s past provisions but also as an invitation for His followers to see themselves as part of a larger narrative of salvation history.
Bread as a Symbol of Sustenance and Nourishment
Bread has always been a fundamental staple in many cultures. It symbolizes physical sustenance, but in Jesus’ declaration, it takes on a deeper, spiritual dimension. By referring to bread as His body, Jesus transforms it into a vital source of spiritual nourishment for His followers.
In the Gospel of John (6:35), Jesus states, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst." This self-identification emphasizes that the nourishment He provides goes beyond the physical. It reflects a relationship where Jesus, as the divine source, fulfills the spiritual hunger of humanity. Therefore, when Jesus instructs His disciples to "take, eat," He is inviting them into an active participation in this divine sustenance.
As we approach the sacrament today, this understanding reinforces that Communion is not just about recalling a historical event; it is about engaging with Christ as our daily bread—an ongoing source of life, grace, and sustenance.
The Meaning of Jesus’ Declaration
When Jesus declares, "This is my body," He initiates a profound transformation of the bread into a symbol of His impending sacrifice. This declaration foreshadows the events of Good Friday, where Jesus’ body would be broken for the sins of the world. In this context, the bread symbolizes His willing sacrifice, portraying the depth of His love for humanity; it conveys the message that He would give His life so that others might live.
Furthermore, this declaration fosters a sense of presence. It invites believers to experience the real presence of Christ in the act of Communion. This understanding transcends a mere ritualistic approach; it emphasizes the notion that through the act of breaking bread, believers reconnect with the living Christ. Thus, each time communion is shared, it becomes a perpetual reminder of His sacrifice and an invitation into deeper intimacy with Him.
Themes of Sacrifice, Presence, and Community
The themes of sacrifice, presence, and community are intricately woven into the fabric of this moment. The breaking of bread becomes a communal act through which the disciples—and by extension, the entire Church—are invited to share in Christ’s life and work. Communion is a collective expression of faith, binding believers together in a shared remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice and love.
This communal dimension is critical. In a world often defined by division and individualism, Jesus' act of sharing bread is a call to unity. Every participant in the breaking of bread stands as a witness to the transformative power of Christ’s love—an invitation to embody that love in relationships with one another.
Moreover, the communal aspect of this sacrament emphasizes that it is not merely an individual act of faith but a corporate gathering of believers—a family brought together by grace. It challenges us to reflect on our connections within the body of Christ, encouraging mutual support, love, and accountability.
Biblical example #1: The Widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:8-16)
In a time of famine, God sent the prophet Elijah to a widow who was preparing a meager meal for herself and her son. This act of sharing—making bread with what little she had—led to a miraculous provision, showing that God honors those who serve and share, even from their limited resources.
II. The Cup of Suffering and Redemption
Next, in verses 27-28, Jesus takes the cup and makes it an emblem of the new covenant through his blood. This symbolizes suffering, pain, and sacrifice. However, it also embodies redemption and hope. Womanist theology often emphasizes resilience—the ability to rise in the face of adversity. Jesus’ sacrifice is a vivid reminder of how suffering can lead to liberation, echoing the experiences of Black women who have persevered through generations of struggle and strife.
The Cup of the Covenant
In Matthew 26:27-28, we encounter another profound element of the Last Supper as Jesus takes a cup, gives thanks, and declares, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” This moment marks a transformative shift in the understanding of covenant, drawing deeply from the rich tapestry of the Old Testament while introducing a new and radical interpretation of God’s relationship with humanity.
The Old Testament Context of Covenant and Sacrifice
To fully grasp the significance of Jesus’ words, it is important to understand the historical and theological background of covenant in the Old Testament. A covenant is a solemn agreement, often sealed with blood, that establishes a sacred relationship between God and His people. Key covenants in the Old Testament, such as those with Noah, Abraham, and Moses, highlight various aspects of divine promise, faithfulness, and the requirements expected from humanity.
The Passover narrative serves as a crucial context for Jesus’ declaration. During the Exodus, God instructed the Israelites to sacrifice a lamb and mark their doorposts with its blood to protect them from the angel of death (Exodus 12:1-13). This act of sacrifice not only preserved the lives of the Israelites but also marked the beginning of their journey toward freedom and identity as God’s chosen people. The blood symbolized deliverance and covenantal promise.
Furthermore, the annual observance of Passover became a ritual of remembrance where God’s redeeming act was recounted, reminding the people of their deliverance from slavery. The sacrificial system set in place through the Law also emphasized that atonement for sin required blood, as stated in Leviticus 17:11: “For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar.”
Jesus’ Redefinition of Covenant
When Jesus lifts the cup and declares it to be His blood of the covenant, He redefines the understanding of both covenant and sacrifice. His words signify that He is instituting a new covenant, one that transcends the old sacrificial system. By linking His blood with the concept of covenant, Jesus emphasizes a radical shift: it is not merely the blood of animals that atones for sin, but His own sacrificial death that will fulfill and surpass the requirement for atonement.
This new covenant fulfills the prophetic promises found in the Old Testament. For example, the prophet Jeremiah speaks of a time when God would establish a new covenant with His people, writing His law on their hearts (Jeremiah 31:31-34). Jesus' declaration directly connects with this prophecy, indicating that through His sacrifice, the separation caused by sin would be reconciled, and a new, intimate relationship with God would be made possible. It emphasizes grace—that access to God is not dependent upon following the law perfectly but through faith in Christ.
Emphasizing Grace and Forgiveness
Jesus' reference to His blood as the means of "forgiveness of sins" speaks profoundly to the concept of grace. In Christ, the paradigm of how God interacts with humanity shifts dramatically. No longer are people bound by the need for constant sacrifice, for Jesus’ atoning death addresses the root of humanity’s estrangement from God.
The sacrificial lamb of the Passover and the temple were powerful symbols of God’s provision for sin; however, they were also reminders of repeated failures and the need for continual offerings. In contrast, through His one-time sacrifice, Jesus provides a complete and final act of atonement, offering forgiveness freely. As stated in Ephesians 1:7, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.”
This new covenant thus calls believers to embrace a transformative relationship with God, recognizing that they are offered unconditional love and forgiveness, regardless of their past. It invites them into a life characterized not by fear of condemnation but by the joy and peace that comes from being reconciled with God.
The Call to Partake in a New Relationship
In inviting His disciples to drink from the cup, Jesus not only signifies sharing in His sacrifice but also establishes the body of Christ—the Church—as a new community of believers who are united in Him. This cup symbolizes the reality that all who believe are brought into a shared identity under this new covenant.
The act of drinking from the cup becomes an expression of faith in Christ’s sacrificial love and a commitment to live out the implications of that love with one another. The communal aspect of sharing the cup fosters unity among believers, emphasizing that they are called to live as a reflection of Christ’s grace and forgiveness in their interactions with others.
Through communion, believers participate in the ongoing reality of the covenant relationship established by Christ. They are reminded that they are not just recipients of grace but also participants in God’s redemptive work in the world, called to extend His love and forgiveness to others.
Biblical example #2: The Woman with the Issue of Blood (Mark 5:25-34)
This woman faced years of suffering and isolation due to her condition. Yet, with faith and determination, she reached out to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment. In that moment of vulnerability and courage, she was healed—not just in body but also in spirit. The communal act of healing—sharing in one another's burdens—underscores the essence of our faith.
III. Community and Connection
In verses 29-31, Jesus speaks of enjoying this meal together again with his disciples in the kingdom of God. Communion is not merely a ritual; it is an affirmation of our identity and connection to one another. Womanist theology articulates the importance of community and fellowship, focusing on mutual support and love.
Example #3: Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42)
The story of Mary and Martha illustrates the importance of companionship and understanding each other's gifts. Although Martha focused on preparing the meal, Mary chose to sit at Jesus' feet and listen. Jesus acknowledged both women, affirming that both action and contemplation have a place in community life.
Celebration Story: The Resurrection's Promise
As we reflect on the elements of communion, let us remember the resurrection of Jesus—the pivotal moment that solidifies our faith. The resurrection signifies victory over death and despair.
I want to share a celebration story—one that embodies the importance of the resurrection in my own life. This past Easter, I was with a dear friend who had been grappling with doubt and despair. She shared how life’s struggles had pushed her to the edge. But in that moment of communion, as we broke bread and reflected on
Jesus’ resurrection, something shifted. She recalled how Jesus faced the cross and rose again, not just for himself, but for all of humanity.
With tears in her eyes, she felt a newfound hope. The resurrection reminded her that, even in her darkest moments, God was with her. We celebrated not just the death and resurrection of Christ but the living hope that propels us forward. It was then that she said, "I trust in God again."
Reflective Prayer
Gracious Heavenly Father,
We come before You with grateful hearts, reflecting on the profound gift of Holy Communion. Thank You for the sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus Christ, whose blood instituted a new covenant, offering us grace, forgiveness, and hope. As we contemplate the significance of this sacred meal, we invite Your Holy Spirit into our midst.
Holy Spirit, we ask that You enlighten our hearts and minds, guiding us to understand fully the depths of the mystery of Communion. Help us to recognize not only the remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice but also the anticipation of the glorious celebration that awaits us in Your Kingdom. May we grasp the weight of this moment as we partake together, recognizing that each element of the bread and the cup is a reminder of Your love and faithfulness.
Inspire us to live out the implications of this covenant in our daily lives. May we become vessels of Your grace, kindness, and forgiveness, reflecting the love of Christ to those around us. Unite our community as we gather around Your table, transforming us into a people marked by hope and a shared anticipation of Christ’s return.
As we approach each moment of Communion, help us to remember that we are part of a larger story—Your story of redemption, restoration, and triumph. May our lives be a testament to the hope we have in You, drawing others into this beautiful narrative of grace.
We thank You for the privilege of sharing in this sacred meal and for the future hope that it embodies. May we be faithful in remembering, hopeful in anticipating, and diligent in living out the truth of Holy Communion with joy and purpose.
In the name of Jesus, our Savior, we pray.
Amen.
Conclusion:
Beloved, as we prepare to partake in communion, let us embrace the brokenness and beauty found within our communities. Let us honor the shared stories of women and the strength that comes from connection. May we remember that the bread we break and the cup we share are not just rituals, but affirmations of life, community, and trust in God. Amen.
