ST. ARBUCK’S CHAPEL – OCTOBER 28, 2020

As you have heard me say, Holy Communion is a Sacrament of Life! My favorite phrase to use when distributing the consecrated bread is, “The Bread of Life, broken for you!” In these blogs and vlogs, I have been talking through more specifically what exactly Holy Communion means. So far, I have talked about the Sacred Meal as an act of thanksgiving! The Greek word, “Eucharist,” simply means giving thanks. The ancient prayer we use every Sunday is called, “The Great Thanksgiving!” It is giving thanks to God for all God has done and promises to do! Last week, I talked about the Sacred Meal as an act of anamnesis which is the Greek word for remembrance! Remember to re-member! All things are made whole again through this Sacrament. Last week, I talked about what makes this meal sacred and actually communicates the Real Presence of Christ to each one who receives. The Greek word for this act is epiclesis – the outpouring of the Holy Spirit which makes all created things sacred.

This week, I want to teach about an aspect of this Sacred Meal we tend to miss. At the end of the Prayer of Great Thanksgiving, the Celebrant frequently prays….”Make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world until Christ comes in final victory and we all feast at his heavenly banquet!” The Communion Prayer is giving thanks for all that God has done in Christ, all that God in Christ is doing, and all that God will do in Christ at the end of time. This affirms the mystery of faith commonly prayed during the Communion Prayer as well….”Christ has died, Christ is risen, and Christ will come again!” Past, present and future! The early church, first century Christianity, prayed frequently, “Maranatha,” which simply means, “Come, Lord Jesus, Come!”

This Sacred Meal affirms in prayer and in the act of receiving the Bread of Life and the Cup of Blessing, that Christ will come at the end of time, and all the enemies of God in any way, shape or form, will be overthrown and Christ will rule and reign forever as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And, did you notice what we will be doing at the end of time? We will be having, according to Isaiah 55, a feast, where all of God’ people will feast together in perfect peace and unity. And as we enjoy God and each other, the lion and the lamb will be lie down together. Isaiah, the prophet, offers a vision of the Kingdom of God coming to earth in full and final form while the enemies of death, evil, and the pain will be destroyed forever! I personally look forward to this grand and glorious vision of God’s Kingdom fully present on earth! Until then, every time we celebrate the Sacred Meal, we are essentially praying, “Come, Lord Jesus, Come!”

Blessings,

Pastor Jeff