Communion

The most recognisable Christian act of worship is not a particular song or creed, but a meal.

On the night he was betrayed, Jesus celebrated the Jewish Passover with his disciples, an ancient meal that commemorated God rescuing the Jewish people out of Egypt. As ever, Jesus added his own twist, reinterpreting this meal to reflect his upcoming death and resurrection. 

The Bible gives a few recollections of how Jesus enacted this, with the earliest probably being from 1 Corinthians 11, declaring that Jesus took a loaf of bread, breaking it and saying, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me”, before later taking the cup (of wine) and saying “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me”. Paul goes on to say that celebrating communion means we “proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” (NRSV). 

There is a breadth of interpretation as to what this means: are we simply remembering what Christ did? Is the bread and wine quite literally Christ’s body and blood? Are there alternatives that can be used in place of bread and wine? 

These questions are sometimes talked about in relation to Christ’s sacrifice and presence. Linked to this can be how often a particular tradition celebrates communion, and if there are any pre-requisites for receiving it. Traditionally, Christians were baptised before they received communion, and are encouraged to repent of sin before each communion, as a way of honouring Christ’s sacrifice and preparing to enter into his presence. Equally, there are credible arguments in favor of an ‘open table’, where anyone who wants to participate can receive, just as Christ encouraged all who were seeking to draw near. There are also debates as to the role of the priesthood in communion (see Ordination).

Regardless of how a particular tradition may envisage communion, it is a moment to come together as a community, even if the community is just two people, to welcome God. Communion is a time to celebrate God’s victory together, in anticipation of that day when we will all feast, with God, forever.