23-26 Let me go over with you again exactly what goes on in the Lord’s Supper and why it is so centrally important. I received my instructions from the Master himself and passed them on to you. The Master, Jesus, on the night of his betrayal, took bread. Having given thanks, he broke it and said,
This is my body, broken for you.
Do this to remember me.
After supper, he did the same thing with the cup:
This cup is my blood, my new covenant with you.
Each time you drink this cup, remember me.
What you must solemnly realize is that every time you eat this bread and every time you drink this cup, you reenact in your words and actions the death of the Master. You will be drawn back to this meal again and again until the Master returns. You must never let familiarity breed contempt. (1 Corinthians 11:23-26, The Message)
Paul is answering a series of questions sent to him by the fellowship in Corinth, the fourth largest urban center in the Roman Empire. He has been answering questions about divisions in the church based on favorite preachers, marriages, divorce, and treating others respectfully but now he switches to the question of behavior during communion. It seems that some were over eating at the meal while others were getting drunk and Paul felt generally a good presentation of what communion represents was not happening. It reminds me of soccer games becoming scenes of violence or parents arguing at Little League games. People loose focus and the whole meaning of the event is marred and the blessing is lost. Even today different denominations disagree on the exact symbolization is happening in communion. Some feel it is a ritual that helps us “remember” while others like Lutherans understand the ritual to be “sacramental” because the person is doing “sacred work” with God through the ritual.
We probably cannot resolve these different interpretations but we can agree that communion is a central activity of Christianity that should not be treated disrespectfully by people over eating or becoming drunk. The challenge I see for us today is the last line where Paul charges us to “never let familiarity breed contempt.” Rituals by their very nature are repeated and become familiar. Lutherans will say the Lord’s Prayer, the Creed and many will do communion every Sunday. The words are known and repeated. The actions are known and comfortable for many “insiders” but may be unfamiliar with visitors. That familiarity can mean that our minds relax and wander. Many feel that kind of familiarity negates the value of the ritual. They can develop contempt for what feels like an empty ritual.
C. S. Lewis in his book Letters to Malcolm affirmed the presence of ritual in worship. The familiarity allows our souls to relax and surface that which is really bothering us. Our soul enters not necessarily ritual but the heart of God. Likewise, in times of crisis our minds find words of the familiar come to mind and provide the prayer that we are unable to generate on our own. Paul’s warning is that we not allow familiarity to breed.
Lord, help us to hold sacred what is sacred to you and value all you did for us on the cross.
On the Way to Wonder 