1 Corinthians 11:23-26

My earliest recollection of the Lord’s Supper is the respectful manner of a particular elder. Upon completion of the distribution of the Communion elements, he helped replace the linen cloth so that the words In Remembrance of Me carved on the table were still visible. He then took meticulous care to ensure that each corner fold was perfectly arranged.

Knowledge enhances childhood observations as understanding of the context of the Lord’s Supper is enhanced. It is interesting that this passage by Paul in 1 Corinthians is considered to be the first written record of the Lord’s Supper. Paul had just reprimanded the Corinthians for their disrespect; their rowdy, divisive meals had no unity of purpose regarding the remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice.

Paul, thus, reminds them of the night of the betrayal when Christ broke the bread and passed the cup while explaining how each act defined the sacrifice of His body and blood to establish a new covenant of salvation and everlasting life and, when repeated, would be “In remembrance of me.”

Our reverent and inspiring Holy Communion at River Road is not a ritual but a focused moment when we can contemplate both the horror of the crucifixion and the joy of the resurrection’s impact on our lives. We may sense, too, the chain of fellowship stemming from the earliest forms of Communion as the Christian church grew to reach us across time. We are free to take Communion no matter what our background and may feel a sense of tranquility and greater perception as we silently sit next to family members, friends, or visitors sharing this most sacred of all “suppers.”

Prayer: Lord, help us “perfect the folds and corners” of our minds and understand why the Bread is broken and the Cup is passed to us.

Nancy Brown