Matt (and everyone else),
I was thinking about this line of thought in the context of communion. As a Baptist, and I’m starting to think I’m a bad Baptist, a remembrance view of the Lord’s Table is SO important. And while I still hold to that view, John 6 has some bizarre things to say that expand my little box of communion understanding.
“Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me” (John 6.54-57 TNIV—emphasis, obviously mine).
What a deep incarnational thought! Just as Jesus only did the will of the Father, so my life is only in Jesus; and that somehow communion represents that beyond my little remembrance view. There is a special added spirituality to the act, and as you say Matt, it might be in the fact that the people with whom I feast at the Lord’s Table are the body of Christ.
“Christ fulfills every authentically religious impulse in us”. Beautifully said! If Jesus does this, and accomplishes it in His body, not just a collection of individuals but a community in united under Him, then as the apostle Paul put it in Ephesians 4.8,9 we are to “live as children of light for the fruit of light consists in all goodness, righteous and truth”. This becomes our strong and passionate desire…more Jesus in “fulfillment of every good thing”!
6 comments:
Dustin,
Within the Catholic understanding of Scripture, not everything is understood literally.
[We could spend days discussing what "literally" means, but suffice to say that the plain sense of the words is not always to be taken plainly -- otherwise we'd be "marrying whores" (Hosea) or chopping off limbs and plucking out eyes (Jesus). For a summary of the Catholic SENSES of Scripture, I recommend the CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, Nos. 115-119...I found it online @ www.catholicdoors.com]
Yet when it comes to the 6th chapter of St. John, Catholics (and the Eastern Orthodox and some Anglicans), do take Christ's words literally. I'm no Bible scholar, but what stands out is the fact that many left Jesus after this "hard saying." Jesus doesn't say, "Wait, I was just kidding." Instead, He asks the disciples, "Will you too leave me?" Peter -- that amazing paradox of a man -- replies for all of them (save Judas), "Lord, to whom shall we go -- you have the words of eternal life."
This is why the early Christians were charged with cannibalism by the pagans. They thought Christians were involved in some kind of human sacrifice during the divine liturgy. It is SOME kind of human (and divine) sacrifice, but in an unbloody manner that was instituited by Christ himself.
At one level it may sound barbaric: how could Christ, why would Christ, give us his flesh to eat? At another level, is there any other way that He could so close to the believer? I mean, not only spiritually inside of me, but physically too? At times it is too much to fathom....
This view of communion extends beyond the individual (me and Jesus) is directed at the whole world. By receiving the body and blood of Christ, I am charged with communicating Christ to others (and they to me). That's the charge but daily I fail.
We've all read in the Apostles' Creed "I believe in the communion of the saints." In this incarnational understanding, our communion is understood to be both a participation in the life of Christ sacramentally, spiritually; it is also a communion with each other.
Before communion in the Eastern churches, the priest says, "Holy things (the Eucharist) are for the holy." We can only become holy through God -- I can no more generate holiness than I can add 5 years to my life. God gives us holy things to make us holy (by Baptism, Eucharist, Marriage, etc.). These holy things require living FAITH because otherwise one is just participating in a ritual or worse (Paul speaks of "discerning" the body of Christ lest we bring condemnation upon ourselves).
Jeepers, I didn't mean to go off on a tangent... This is surely a different view than the traditional Baptist one, eh? There are dangers to sacramental view of reality (i.e., seeing all things as signs that point to God) such as ritualism, superstition, and mere externalism, but this is the view I cling to because it seems the most divine-like: if Christ came in time, he must be among us in a way that is the same or deeply similar to the way he was present to the first disciples.
Catholicism (rightly understood -- their are many counterfeit versions out there!) affirms this view of Christ and the world. That's why I'm still Catholic despite goofy liturgies, pedophiles, and a myriad of mediocre folks (myself included).
I'm not suggesting that the Catholic Church is the only way to Christ, but I do believe she has the most comprehensive understanding of what God has revealed (otherwise I'd be a Baptist or an Anglican or Orthodox...).
One more thought before I get off my soapbox: Despite everything I've said above, I believe that it is not institutional identity that is crucial, but Christian experience. That is, it is infinitely more important that I encounter Christ than that I have the "right" denominational affiliation.
Courtney,
First, Godspeed on your missions trip. Second, I'd like to outline two "extremes" I've seen when it comes to communion. The first is here in the good ol' USA: The practice in Catholic churches of everyone going to receive communion. By itself, this appears to be a good thing -- I mean Christ desires deeper intimacy with us and the Eucharist is an irreplaceable path. Yet, there could be a lack of "discernment" here; a lack of spiritual prepration.
This is perhaps IMPOSSIBLE to know definitively -- I can't look into anyone's soul! Yet the traditional Catholic teaching is that if one sinned seriously, one should abstain from communion until one has (sacramentally) confessed his/her sins. Surveys indicate that people aren't confessing their sins, so either (a) people are sinning less or (b) they are sinning and still receiving communion.
Given the pathologies in society, option A seems unlikely. Thus we are left with option B which radically limits one's spiritual development -- we can try to rationalize our guilt away but there is no substitute for confessing our guilt.
The other extreme is people not going to communion except on rare occasions. I saw this in Mexico -- half a dozen people out of a congregation of 100s queing up for communion.
This extreme is caused by an excessive concern for one's unworthiness. Christ KNEW when he instituted the Eucharist that mortals were unworthy...the point is for us to be changed by HIM. And we can't be changed if we don't approach him.
I love the line in the Roman liturgy (which echoes the Centurion): "Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed." It's a paradox: we who are unworthy are made worthy by the gift of Christ's love. Yet we must be open to being changed (i.e., repentant).
Sheesh, we started with communion and now I'm babbling about that most un-Baptist institution, confession. Well, perhaps its not so much un-Baptist as it a different expression of the same reality -- our need to be reconciled with God.
Finally, let me say a word on hypocrites. This is a subject I'm an expert on because I am one. Hypocrisy is really unavoidable for anyone who holds to any moral standard. One moment I may say, "It's wrong to steal." Come April 15, I assure you I will be attempting to maximize what I can back from Uncle Sugar.
Christianity is not about moral perfection according to some impossible scale. It is the recognition of Christ among and this (slowly, at times imperceptibly) changes us.
Concerning the removal of the scandal of hypocrites I can only parrot this phrase (I think it's from C.S. Lewis): The Church is not museum for SAINTS but a hospital for SINNERS. So it should be no surprise some of the most "busted up" people in Church. The most wounded those who can't see their own frightful sins.
Peace,
-Matt
Amen, Courtney, if we could place everything in Christ's hands without trying to take it out his hands after we've put it there! (that's my tendency)
I had a great teacher at Franciscan University (Regis Martin) who began his Theology of the Church class by inviting us to see the Church in the same we approach a novel or work of fiction: if we don't suspend our disbelief (be it about made-up characters or the divinity of Christ), we cannot go beyond a certain point.
Prof. Martin understood that Christ/Church is not someone/thing to be grasped by propositional statements (alone) but must be ENCOUNTERED. Like any real encounter, there will be obstacles. But if we remain open, Christ will reveal himself to us.
What you said about grace and repentance made me think of Ignatius of Loyola. He said we should PRAY as if all depends on Christ and ACT as if everything depends on ourselves. This sounds a little crazy but if Christ's Spirit penetrates me, I'll know what I should REALLY do (how much of our ACTIVITY is sterile because Christ is not animating it?)
Peace,
-Matt
Crumbs,
Great thought: “In all worldly systems, the rich devour the poor, the powerful consume the weak, and yet in communion we meet a God who insists that we consume him.”
I will definitely be thinking on this as we do communion this Sunday (in California for vacation). To consume Jesus. To be so hungry (excuse the over used phrase) for Him that only communion, relating to Him, will do!
Thanks GS
Dustin and Crumbs,
You both have me thinking about how I "prioritize" spiritual and worldly values. I've been looking for work and tend to ask (myself at least) "how much will this pay?" versus "how will this draw me closer to Christ?" or "how can I serve Christ in these people if I get employed here?"
Recently a priest I went to confession with cautioned me about the above tendency. This was a little spooky because it wasn't something that I confessed!
In any case, Christ IS mercy. I would like every gesture of mine to be a response to Grace. This is holiness and I ain't got it.
Another tendency of mine (what is this, virtual confession?!) is envy the rich. Crumbs, this ties in, I think, with your "food chain." At the same time I both have contempt for those choose the almighty dollar over spiritual values AND "I wish I were a rich man" (FIDDLER ON THE ROOF). What do those 12-steppers say? -- The first step is to recognize you have a problem.
A partial solution, I've found, is to strive to remember Christ at all times. A necessary component for me is to "seek the face of the saints" as the Didache says. Today we might say "remain in fellowship with other believers" but the ancient words have a mite more style.
Man, oh, man,
I thought I strayed from the given topic. "Tim-ber!"
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