Betty Owens Geary, member since 1988, past chair of Executive Committee, member of Gene Decker Study Class

Matthew 26:17-29 (NRSV)

17 On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where do you want us to make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?” 18 He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is near; I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’” 19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover meal.

 

20 When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve; 21 and while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” 22 And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, “Surely not I, Lord?” 23 He answered, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.” 25 Judas, who betrayed him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” He replied, “You have said so.”

26 While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; 28 for this is my blood of the[b] covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

 

Reflection:

One of the experiences I have missed the most during the pandemic is the sacrament of Holy Communion. My memories of Communion go way back. I was three years old the first time I attended worship on “Communion Sunday,” which was the first Sunday of every month at the Methodist church of my childhood. I remember it very clearly, mainly because my poor mother was mortified when I asked if there were seconds on refreshments.

 

In more recent years my husband Bob and I have served Communion during the 8:30 worship service. We’ve also helped set up and clear away the elements. My favorite time to do both was Christmas Eve.

 

As a Communion server, I have been blessed and privileged in so many ways. I have watched a powerful love story as a wife developing dementia was helped to take Communion every week by her husband. I was privileged to serve a dear friend’s granddaughter her first Communion on Christmas Eve.  

 

At its heart Communion is simply a meal. The United Methodist liturgy begins with an invitation:  Christ our Lord invites to his table all who love him. Come to the table. Come and eat. When Jesus shares the bread and wine with his disciples, he has already identified Judas as his betrayer. Yet Christ shares the bread and wine with Judas too. We don’t need to be perfect to participate in Communion; we just need to love Jesus.

The most significant thing to remember is that it is Christ who invites us to his table—all of us.  The servers don’t decide who comes; neither do clergy, nor bishops. Christ invites us all.

 

One of the holy mysteries of Communion is Christ’s statement that the bread is his body and the wine is his blood. United Methodists don’t teach that this is literal. But what exactly does it mean? Some years ago I heard a pastor close Communion with the following words:

 

“I have put my life in your hands.”

 

What a powerful image! Those words have stayed with me. When Christ shared the bread and wine with his disciples, he put his life in their hands; he left it to them to carry on his message and build his church.

 

When we participate in the sacrament of communion 2,000 years later and the pastor says, “This is the body of Christ; this is the blood of Christ,” we are hearing the same message the disciples heard:  Jesus is putting his very life in our hands. He has commissioned us to continue spreading the good news of his love and building the Kingdom of God on earth. He has put his life in our hands.

 

Prayer:

Dear God,

You invite me to partake of this holy meal. You call me to be the hands and feet of Christ. When I take Communion, help me remember that Christ has put his life in my hands, that I must be for the world the body of Christ, that it is through me that others encounter your Kingdom. Make me worthy of the task. Amen.