A thought on 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
We are preparing in most of our communities to enter into a solemn night of remembrance and thanksgiving. It is a high moment in the midst of Holy Week as we claim for ourselves the life that has been given to us in the offering of Jesus to his people in the upper room. In doing so, we are taking our places in a tremendous chain of liturgy and prayer that binds us with God's people across the whole Church through the ages.
Plenty of people have died tragic or untimely deaths, and plenty of memorials have been established to help keep their memories alive in the world. But in the action of gathering to take, bless, break, and give the bread and wine of Christ, Paul says we are handing on what has been given to us. And precious, indeed, is this memorial! Jesus tells us that in these actions we are in the present moment receiving and handing on his body and his blood – the new covenant given for all who would receive it. And Paul affirms that it is in these actions that we do indeed show forth Christ’s death for all who would see it, and do so looking forward to his coming again. And so he points us all toward a feast over which Christ himself presides, a feast which has no end.
Every hunger of every human life is filled in this ongoing memorial, which we hand on now to new generations in the Eucharist we celebrate on Holy Thursday and every occasion in which we gather in Christ’s name. He is, indeed, present in the meal, present in our midst. “Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us; therefore, let us keep the feast…” and keep it always, filled with the memory and sweet fragrance of its first Celebrant.
As we remember and give thanks for your love in Jesus Christ, O God, we offer ourselves anew as his people. Now fill us with his life. Amen.
Rev. David T. Chafin
North Eaton Christian Church
Grafton, Ohio