After Holy Communion Which Way - Life or Death?

Judas who would betray Him, answered, “ Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “ You have said so.”

Matthew 26.25

Leonard Sweet in his book From Tablet to Table shares an incident where one person challenged him if he could tell the whole Old Testament and New Testament in six sentences – three for each. Leonard Sweet wondered how could one concise the whole of Old Testament and New Testament in three sentences each. Not able to come up with an answer Leonard Sweet asked him to go ahead with the answers. The man said, “The Old Testament can be fully understood in three sentences – They tried to kill us. We survived, Let’s eat. In the same way the New Testament can be summarized in three sentences – I love you! I forgive you! Let’s eat.”

At the very beginning and all through the Bible in all the stories about God and his people we find food is involved. Stories that changed life and history of individuals and humanity – the bite of an apple, trading an inheritance for a bowl of stew, waking up to find the land strewn with bread (manna), Jesus’ first miracle at the wedding where water turned into wine, the first Holy Communion which was the Last Supper where the bread and wine now became permanently linked to the Body of Christ.

Food has always played an important part in every culture. Food is the language of care. It is also something that we give during celebration. Food is the thing that connects us, that bears our traditions, our sense of home and family and on a much practical level it is our ability to live and breathe each day.

When Jesus chose bread to represent his body I believe there is a greater symbolic meaning attached to it. Shauna Niequist writes in one of the articles that dealt with Bread and wine - Chicken when you cook it, is still chicken. It was raw chicken, and then it becomes cooked chicken. Onions: raw, then cooked. But it’s another thing altogether when flour and water and salt and yeast become bread.

All those involved in baking know that the outcome depends on readjusting, finding warmer or cooler places to let the dough rise, learning how much kneading is too much or too little and the correct amount to be put in the oven.

When Jesus said He is the Bread of life he intended that this transformation has taken place in His life and it should in all those who partake in His body. When we look into the ministry and life of Jesus one thing is evident that Jesus and table went together. Leonard Sweet says that from birth till death Jesus and table went together. The infant Jesus is laid in a manger, from which the animals are fed and thus there is a table at the stable. Jesus makes it clear to the disciples and to the crowd after the miracle of feeding five thousand and he explained what He meant when he said He is the Bread of life by saying Unless and until a grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies it will not yield fruit (John 12:24).

Each and every communion calls us to die. Which way are we choosing is important? The first Holy Communion that Jesus celebrated shows us that the option, the choice is in our hands. Till the last moment Jesus gives us a chance for us to change our thoughts, our way of thinking and let it be in congruence with the Lord. One thing that surprises me the most is that when Jesus said, Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” All started asking was it about them that Jesus was talking about. All the disciples might have been approached by the Roman and Jewish heads so that Jesus could be trapped in some way. All the disciples must have in their hearts thought that they will not travel if Jesus is going to the cross. They followed thinking he is the Messiah and bring down the Romans.

Though Bible mentions only Judas asking, Is it I? I believe this was a question asked by all. And Jesus might have given the same answer to all. Jesus was giving a chance for repentance. Jesus was telling them, My child haven’t you still understood that I know what’s going on in your mind. I am giving you a chance to repent. To make an about turn from the wrong you are about to do. Sad fate. Judas didn’t. But Peter did. When the cock crowed Peter cried in repentance knowing what great sin he had committed.

As we celebrate one more Maundy Thursday and remember Jesus instituting the first Holy Communion we need to ask ourselves – Which way am I choosing after taking part in the Holy Communion? Towards life or towards death?

May God help us to choose wisely. God Bless you.