Today’s readings: John 13:1-15, Luke 22:7-27
The Eucharist
Communion
The Last Supper
Three different ways of talking about the same thing. A ritual of faith where we join together and remember. The name Eucharist is believed to have come from the ancient Greek words eukharistia {meaning thanksgiving}, from eukharistos {meaning grateful} and from kharizesthai {meaning to offer graciously}. So to celebrate the Eucharist, to partake in Holy Communion with one another is to feast in thanksgiving with a grateful heart, graciously offering ourselves to the moment perhaps.
The Eucharist or Holy Communion is a community gathering and feast to remember all that was done for us. It’s a ritual, a tradition and while some of us do it more regularly than others we all must remember why we do it when we partake. We must remember that we are gathered to remember, to share the stories and teachings around the table. We join together in this ritual to celebrate the life of Jesus and his great sacrifice for us. We meet here to build one another up through Christ, to encourage each other on the journey and connect in community. This is a meal, a family feast. It’s both a celebration and remembrance meant to lift us up as we go.
This moment in faith is meant to tie us to something bigger. Today we remember that first ‘Last Supper’. We come together in community in remembrance of him as we journey towards the cross and the freedom of Easter. Let us pray that we do so grateful hearts, thankful for the grace that is offered. Let us pray that these moments open our hearts to experience Easter in a way we have not ever before.
