Division, The Church and Holy Communion

1 Corinthians 11:17-34

As a teenager, Annie Dillard questioned the values and faith of her parents. Like most young people, Annie wasn’t eager to spend Sunday mornings in church. Often, she sat in the balcony with her friends poking fun at the people below. “Such hypocrites!”

Annie avoided Holy Communion Sunday whenever possible. Reading a ritual out of a hymn book had no meaning for her. She groaned as trays were passed out with little cubes of bread and vials of grape juice. But as she looked around, she saw everyone praying, even her friends. Why were they taking this so seriously? Every head was bowed, no one was moving. “I didn’t know what to make of it,” she wrote. “For the first time, I did not see these people as pious hypocrites. They were ordinary people doing the best they could, coming to receive forgiveness for their shortcomings.”

When Annie understood the meaning of Holy Communion attending church became more than a ritual. She wrote: “We come to the Lord’s table in need of something we cannot do for ourselves. God is present in us, the people of God’s church.”

I wrote this on election day. Tonight, there will be minute by minute updates until the ballots are counted and the results are reported. No expense has been spared on advertising for the candidates or reporting election results. Afterward, there will be endless debate on what the results mean but my prediction is: there will be arguments over who is right, and our nation will remain divided, and more frustrated.

This should be an opportunity for the church to become a voice, not so much in choosing sides as in providing a place where people come together in a safe and holy environment. The church should and could be that place but in many ways, we are just as divided as our nation with our own frustrations. We live in a time when the sacred and holy no longer seem important. Attending church has lost its meaning.

Paul wrote: “I hear that there are divisions among you.” (1 Cor. 11:18) Divisiveness is not new. Paul recognizes that we have strongly held opinions. But when we come to church something should be more important. Christians considered the Lord’s supper a vital part of their faith. The world was and is unkind, so communion is a source of strength and comfort. Families come together to share a meal amid their pettiness and disagreements. Churches come together to share each other’s burdens and joys. We have different opinions, but we put those differences aside. 

The world can be unkind, divisive, and violent. But the church makes a difference. Just like the first Christians, Holy Communion is a fundamental part of our faith offering strength and comfort. Annie Dillard was forever changed seeing people come together in humility before our risen Lord, sharing a Holy Meal. We are forever changed as well.

Prayer Challenge: What are some of your early memories of Holy Communion?