August 17, 2003

Mindekirken Aug 17^th, 2003
Pastor Jens Arne Dale

This spring we had a JUMP service at Central Lutheran Church. JUMP means to jump as I have understood it. And jumping was really a part of the program. The music might be characterized as rapping. There were a lot of youth present, including confirmands from Mindekirken and myself. The sound level was substantial. But suddenly everything got quiet. Pastor Craig Lewis introduced the Holy Communion. He said if I remember it correctly: Let me give you three reasons why the Holy Communion should be considered the world’s largest feast.

So simply one may say something as important about Holy Communion. And maybe you will remember it, I couldn’t help it.

Then Pastor Lewis read the words that institute the Holy Communion as we find them with minor differences in Matthew, Mark, Luke and Paul (1 Cor 11). He lifted up the wine and bread saying the words which recall the last meal Jesus had with his disciples. One couldn’t see anything happening with the bread and the wine. But in dead earnest hundreds of youth lined up for the communion stations. As they stopped at the communion station, every one got a small piece of bread pressed into their open hand.

The youth or the pastor who delivered it said: This is the body of Christ. Was it? Some would say that the bread symbolizes the body of Christ. But Jesus said it even more strongly: This is my body given for you… I don’t think anyone laughed. But I can’t imagine anyone really understood it either. The gift of Holy Communion is a mystery. It is impossible to explain, it can only be received. For a short second every youth stood with the bread in his or her hand. Then they took a step to the side. The bread was dipped in wine. Maybe two pairs of eyes met over the cup. Anyway, the words were spoken: This is the blood of Christ, shed for you.

The youth belong to a generation which grew up with Hollywood’s glorification of violence. At the same time they are children of a society which tries to avoid pain and suffering at any price. This is the body and blood of Jesus. The language of Holy Communion is extremely strong. Bread and wine remind us of the innocent one who was killed on the cross. End even stronger: Here the death of the Lord is proclaimed… 1 Cor 11.26. The long lines of youth going to the Communion are demonstration marches. But their heads are not bowed in protest, but in admittance of their own guilt… Given for the atonement of your sins.. will soon be said. But first wine and bread will be put in their mouths, chewed, swallowed, eaten.

It happened very quietly. Some participated for the first time. Maybe that evening was the beginning of a life long journey in faith. I saw Bishop Craig Johnson there. I guess he has participated in communion hundreds of times. Do bishops have stronger faith than others? I’m not sure. Faith and doubt are not always shared as we anticipate. But approached with the body and blood of Jesus, everyone is equal. The one who barely knows a single prayer receives exactly the same as the doctor of theology. And the gift of Communion doesn’t benefit us more if we think we understand more.

The girl with Down Syndrome was never more equalized than at the Lord’s table. Some were obviously moved, but most of the youth didn’t show any emotions at Communion. It doesn’t matter. Emotions are not decisive, the Lord’s gifts are not devaluated by our lack of feelings. We receive the body of the Lord even if we don’t think about it, Paul says, 1 Cor 11.29. Therefore we should have respect for it. Our church’s confession says that Holy Communion works regardless of who officiate it, yes even if it was officiated by the evil one.

Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day, Jesus says. Holy Communion is solid food. If we eat salad we are more likely to get hungry soon than if we eat a meal of meat. Jesus said: Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

Holy Communion satisfies hunger and thirst in another way. Jesus becomes a part of us and provides what we need. Those who drink of the water I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life. John 4.14. Communion is an appetizer of the big banquet of heaven where all our needs will be satisfied. But already here and now the spring is within us. Jesus lives in us. He gives us what we need.

We’re living in a society with an attitude that nearly worships everything which is youthful. The long lines of teenagers who participated in Communion at Central Lutheran Church were a demonstration of young life, future and possibilities. When you’re 20 life lies open. Why then have a ceremony which focuses on crucifixion? I think I saw an answer in what happened when Pastor Craig Lewis lifted his arms when everybody was back in their pews. In one hand he held the Communion Cup, the other was like a shadow of God’s hand, lifted to bless the flock:

The crucified and resurrected Jesus Christ has now given you his holy body and blood, which he gave for the atonement of all your sins. May He strengthen you and keep you in the true faith towards eternal life. (The English liturgy has a shorter version, but the meaning is the same). Atonement of all your sins…It’s not only teenagers who might long for words that release a burdened conscience. Who doesn’t sin sometimes? Holy Communion talks about forgiveness for sins in the past. Things are put in order. Here we celebrate the joy of life. The Communion is the feast where we see life as if it mirrored God’s dream of creation.

Communion makes us one with Christ. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. ..Whoever eats me will live because of me. We don’t know how many days we will live. But we do know that the one who is in Christ will be raised up to eternal life.

The Israelites wandered for 40 years in the desert. God gave them food on their way to the promised land. We’re on our way to heaven. Communion is our food as we’re on our way. It gives strength to every one, and it unites us as people of God.

I’m the bread of life, Jesus said. That is the bread we receive at Communion. And because everyone has a share of the same bread, we’re one in Christ. The unity stretches from Central Lutheran Church which I have described today, to Mindekirken, to our sisters and brothers in the catholic and orthodox and all other churches. We’re one with Christians in all countries of the world, the generations who have gone on the way of life before us, and those who come after us. Yes, through Holy Communion we’re one with those who already are seated at the table in the kingdom of God. Therefore, Communion is the world’s largest feast, hosted by Jesus himself. And we’re all on the guest list.

Glory be to God, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, one true God, now and forever. Amen.

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