Come to the Table

As we began taking a closer look at the church, I retold Dr. Fred Craddock’s fictional account of the interaction between a settler and a clerk at the General Store in Peter’s Colony, Texas, near what is now Dallas. The man came in to buy supplies and the clerk asked “What’s in the wagon?” To which the man replied, “Oh, that’s a church.” “You’ve got a church in that wagon?” We have taken a close look at the contents of that wagon – the Bible, the Baptismal font, the pews, the liturgy and music, and the cross. In the center of the wagon is a table.

At the center of every congregation, in every denomination, in every nation, in Cathedrals and homes, is a table. A place to come together and eat. The meal we eat together goes by different names, Lord’s Supper, Eucharist, Holy Communion, and each of the names reveal something important about the nature of the meal at this table.

When we call this meal the Lord’s Supper. We are reminded of Jesus’ last meal with his disciples. It was the Passover meal, celebrating Israel’s liberation from slavery in Egypt. As they finished the meal, Jesus broke bread and shared a new cup and they understood that a new liberation from slavery was coming…but they thought the liberation was from Rome, they didn’t realize it was so much more – that Jesus would liberate us from our sin. As we come to the table, we remember.

The name Eucharist also has its roots in the Passover tradition. Throughout the meal, as each cup is poured a blessing is said, “Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.” The word Eucharist is Latin for “thanksgiving” and speaks to our attitude in approaching the table. As we come to the table, we give thanks.

And sometimes we call the meal we share here Communion – literally, “with union” for here at this table we are united with Christ and with one another. In the Old Testament, we see that eating together is a sign of covenant. Whenever we see a covenant made between people, they then eat and drink together. As we come to the table, we are united.

World Communion Sunday was born out of the hunger for unity as we gather at the table. In 1930, Dr. Hugh Thompson Kerr served as Moderator of the General Assembly for the Presbyterian Church, and he saw the need for unity among Christians. So, in 1933, at Shadyside Presbyterian Church in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, a worship service was held in which other denominations were invited to share in communion. By 1936, the Presbyterian denomination had adopted the annual practice. And in 1940, the predecessor of the National Council of Churches encouraged churches around the world to celebrate World Communion Sunday.

This morning I read part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. He takes the law “thou shalt not murder” and expands it. The law points to God’s will, but following the law won’t fully establish God’s kingdom. We have to open our hearts to the spirit of the law.

In Jesus’ day, the people of God looked forward to their day in God’s court. Justice would be served. They couldn’t wait to prove they were right when God declared the judgement and their enemies were overthrown. Israelites were oppressed. They were oppressed by Rome, and they were oppressed by the rich aristocrats inside the community – the Pharisees and the Temple elite. So they came to Temple seething. They looked at their brothers and sister there and said “Raca,” which really doesn’t have an English translation. It is a word of contempt…I imagine we all have a few choice words we could fill into the blank. It goes with a grunt and an eyeroll, “Raca.” So Jesus says, before you come in here to the altar, go be reconciled. Don’t approach here with “Raca” on your lips toward each other. Judging and deciding “I can’t wait until God gives you yours” is breaking the law “Thou shalt not kill.”

And I imagine that most of us feel self-satisfied that we don’t have those kinds of feelings toward other people. Perhaps that was how the leaders at Corinth felt. Bonnie read the beginning of Paul’s first letter to the church at Corinth. Chloe has gone to visit in Corinth. She lives in Ephesus, where Paul is at the time, and when she comes home she tells Paul about what is happening in Corinth. There are divisions, and so Paul writes, “Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose.”

They were so divided that Paul writes “When you come together, it is not really to eat the Lord’s Supper.” See, in the early church, they had communion every week, and it wasn’t a piece of bread and a taste of juice. It was a meal in a home. When they gathered for communion, they would head over to the host’s home when work is done. The first workers to finish are, of course, the upper class people. The dinners are usually held in upper class homes since they can hold more people. So, they begin to gather. And instead of gathering and waiting on everyone to get there in Corinth. They start eating and drinking. The tables were low to the ground, so you really more lay than sat at them. And when the table was full, the next group to arrive just sat around on the floor wherever there was a spot. And when that was full, well those workers can eat in the courtyard…not much left anyway. Or in the road…sorry we are nearly out of food and wine.

And so what is happening is not a unification around the table, but a stratification. The wealthy are drunk and stuffed and the day laborers are in the street hungry.

Here, at the table, we remember Jesus and give thanks to God and are united. So as we come to World Communion Sunday let us consider those who gather at the table in other places. Across the globe, according to a 2014 Pew Research Study, Christians are harassed for their faith in 151 countries. Open Doors USA is a non-profit agency working to advocate for persecuted Christians. They share that each month 322 Christians are killed for believing, and another 772 experience violence because of their faith. I encourage you to go to their website, opendoorsusa.org. You can receive emails about persecution of Christians and requests for prayer and avenues for advocacy. Let us remember all who come to the table.

As we come to the table, we come to be united. So we examine ourselves. Are people I feel like grunting “Raca” at while I roll my eyes? Let me see them as my beloved brother, as my beloved sister. Am I coming to the table and reclining with my friends and getting my fill without considering those who do not have the privileges I have? Let divisions cease.

Let all come to the table. To be united. To give thanks to God. To remember Jesus. Amen.