Today we explore the concept of Communion. Communion is about more than our celebrations at the table, it is about the body of Christ gathered together. How can we remember our connection not only to Christ but to one another in times like this when it is less safe to physically gather in the same space?
For many of us in the church, our first thought when we hear the word communion is likely the celebration of Holy Communion. No matter what other name we may know the sacrament as (The Lord’s Supper, the Eucharist, the Mass), we likely think of the ritual sharing of the bread and the cup. This celebration is shared in different ways and with differing frequencies, but it is one sacrament that all Christians seem to have in common. Whether it is wafers and wine every week, a loaf and Welch’s once a month, or pull-top containers of juice and bread semi-regularly, we all know communion.
However communion is about more than our sacraments and rites. Literally, the word communion means together with or united with. This is one of the reasons it is such a fitting word for our celebrations of the sacrament. When we share at the Lord’s Table, we are gathered together with one another. We are also united with Christ and with one another.
But beyond this obvious usage of the word, we are in communion with the other members of our congregation even when we are not celebrating the sacrament. We gather together with one another on a regular basis. We are united with one another in mission and ministry. We are also in communion with other Christians beyond our local congregation, even beyond our larger denominations. We all profess our connection to one another through Christ.
Of course, this language of communion is often interpreted to imply physical togetherness. Pages of ink have been spilled arguing about the legitimacy of Holy Communion mediated through technology. While physical gatherings certainly contribute to visualizing our unity and connectedness, we can and must be aware of our communion with Christ and with one another even when we are not together. To quote a favorite movie franchise, “If you only believe in [the sun] when you can see it, you will never make it through the night.” Finding ways to maintain and remind ourselves of our connection to Christ and one another is vitally important during times of uncertainty and chaos.
At This Table
As mentioned above, for many of us, communion brings to mind our participation in Holy Communion. We trace our celebrations of the sacrament back to the Biblical stories of Jesus’ last meal with his disciples before his death and resurrection. At this meal, Jesus takes bread and blesses it before sharing it with his disciples. As he shares it, he says, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19, NRSV). After supper, he blesses the cup and shares it saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood” (Luke 22:20, NRSV).
One aspect of our sacramental celebrations is obviously the ritual commemoration of this event in the life of Christ. But beyond this, we must realize that we can and should remember Jesus’ meals every time we eat. Each meal that we have is a time to remember Christ. Every time we break bread, every time we drink from a cup, we can do it in remembrance of Christ.
This is one of the reasons that we say a blessing at the start of a meal. In what ways does our typical table blessing call to mind Jesus’ meals with his disciples and others? In what ways do we remember our connection to Christ as we come to the table for a meal?
Beyond our connection to Christ, our meals are also a time to remember our connection to other people. So many people make the meals we share possible -- farmers and those who harvest, delivery drivers, grocery store employees, restaurant staff, etc. Just as our meals would not be possible without God, our meals would not be possible without the many hands that get it from the fields to our tables. When we sit down to a meal, we are not only united to Christ, but we are also united to all of those other people without whom we would not have that meal. So when we give thanks for our meal, we should also remember all of those others who make that meal possible.
Reach Out and Touch Someone
Some 40-ish years ago, there was a commercial jingle for Bell Telephone/AT&T that told us to “Reach out, reach out and touch someone. Reach out, and just say hi.” It was quite the earworm, and I can still hear it in my head today.
At the time, this was really the only way to talk directly to someone from a distance. Sure, you could write a letter, but picking up the telephone let you actually hear their voice. Today, we might text or send a chat through another app. We even have various video options available to us today. But those little rectangles most of us carry in our pockets are also telephones. We can call someone and have a conversation just as we used to. You can even plug in the charger if you are feeling nostalgic for a cord.
In times of crisis and isolation, sometimes we just need to hear a comforting voice. Maybe we need to talk to mom. Maybe a dear friend lives far away. Maybe you haven’t been able to see your grandkids in weeks or even months. As the saying goes, they’re just a phone call away.
For those that truly are isolated, this contact is especially important. If you live alone and don’t feel comfortable being physically around others, the phone can be a lifeline. Even for people who may be isolating with other family members, having the opportunity to talk to someone that you are not currently isolating with can be mentally and emotionally refreshing. Hearing another voice is a great reminder that we are connected and united with others, especially in the midst of chaos and uncertainty.
Roll a D6
For some people, gathering with others is simply about the social aspect. Communion means trivia night or board games, Dungeons & Dragons or xbox. Playing with others this way is how they feel connected. Gathering with others in this way can be energizing, something that is interrupted in times of isolation or crisis.
Thankfully, the same technologies that make prayer and Bible study possible from a distance make these types of gatherings possible as well. A few weeks into the current health crisis, a friend organized a trivia night. We gathered online with friends and colleagues scattered across several cities in another state. We spent several hours chatting and laughing and enjoying each other's company. It was so good, we did it several more times over the next few weeks. While those we were participating with had seen each other semi-regularly before physical isolation became the norm, my family had not seen many of them in person for two or three years, and maybe only once a year for some time before that. It was a great way to reconnect and socialize while maintaining safe boundaries.
While certain games have always been possible online, the present crisis appears to have increased participation in online gaming (for example: https://www.bbc.com/news/business-52555277). Some of this is merely individual users playing more games, but games that include interaction with other players is part of this increase as well. This is yet another way that people spending more time at home are seeking interaction with other people on a regular basis.
Even our more traditional board games have seen increases in online participation. Services are available that allow people to play traditional board games with others online -- from sitting at your separate tables with a video connection open to online platforms specifically designed to replicate the game board experience (you can see information about some of these options here: https://www.techradar.com/how-to/how-to-play-board-games-online-play-with-friends-or-family-over-the-web).
While traditional board games may be the preference for some, others may prefer the type of social interaction they get from a role playing game like Dungeons & Dragons. The good news is that you can do that virtually as well. From playing over a video connection to websites specifically designed for hosting these types of games, the fun doesn’t have to end just because you can’t gather together in someone’s house. (roll20.net and warhorn.net are two sites specifically designed for supporting these types of games).
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Communion is about our connection to others. In the church, it is about our connection to God and our connection to one another. In our lives, communion is fellowship. It is camaraderie. It is friendship and relationship. All of these are impacted in times of uncertainty and isolation. And so we seek out ways to maintain those connections and relationships, using the resources available to us.
Next time, we will look at the practice of Service. First we will consider the question of what service has to do with spirituality. Then we will look at the importance of continuing to serve those in need even when we ourselves may be trapped in anxiety and fear by external circumstances.