Communion Part 1 - Remembrance

[joseph]

Communion Teaching Part 1 – Remembrance

First of all, the proper understanding of communion is not a trivial
issue. When Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer (Author of Book
of Common Prayer) called the sacraments “visible words” he meant that
what goes on in the celebrating of Holy Communion is, in essence, the
preaching of the gospel in a visible way that must adhere to the
proper teaching of the bible just as a sermon or any other teaching of
the Christian faith. So that, when Cranmer and the other 16th Century
English Reformers were burned at the stake for rejecting the
superstitious, Medieval understanding of the Roman Catholic Mass, it
wasn’t because they didn’t like the style of the service or the
candles or vestments; it was precisely because the Mass mis-
communicated the foundational biblical truth of the gospel and how
human beings are forgiven of their sins and made right with God, and
they just could not compromise on the truth that had saved their
souls. So, one might say, the proper understanding of communion is a
life and death issue.

The key element in understanding communion is the idea of
“remembrance.” Jesus used the word in his instructions to the
disciples as did the apostle Paul in his letters. And for a good
reason - human beings are forgetful. We get so caught up in the
everyday occurrences of life that we easily forget or diminish the
activities of the past unless we make a special effort to bring their
importance back to mind. That’s why we celebrate birthdays,
anniversaries, and the Forth of July.

God knew this characteristic of his creation and so throughout the
Bible he had people mark special occasions with assigned celebrations
and feasts. The Passover is a classic example. The occasion of being
delivered from slavery in Egypt was so monumental that He wanted His
people to remember it for generations to come. And so Jews still
celebrate that great event every year in a way that brings back the
true meaning and re-inspires the people to trust the God who delivered
their ancestors.

Our communion service is designed to be such a “remembrance” and so
much more. In Luke we read, “And he took bread, gave thanks and broke
it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do
this in remembrance of me." Luke 22:19

Luke goes on to say, “In the same way, after the supper he took the
cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is
poured out for you.” (vs 20)

Paul quotes the same verse when he says to the Corinthians,

“For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord
Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given
thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do
this in remembrance of me." In the same way, after supper he took the
cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this,
whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me."

We see from the Last Supper Jesus teaching and establishing a pattern
for celebrating the monumental event of his death and resurrection so
that His people will keep fresh the memory and the meaning of His
great act in history.

But it’s not simply memory for nostalgia’s sake. Coupled with the
memory is the meaning and the power behind the meaning. For Paul goes
on to say, “For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you
proclaim the Lord's death until he comes” (1 Cor 11:23-26). Those
“visible words” of bread and wine proclaiming the Lord’s death and
resurrection. When we celebrate communion we remember what Christ has
done on the cross in such a way that the good news of the forgiveness
of sins is proclaimed afresh and the power of the gospel goes forth to
the hearts of the believers who gather, setting them free from sin and
reminding them of their righteous standing before God. In effect, the
celebrating of communion is the reminder of the gospel in sight,
taste, touch, and sound to the believer who partakes in it, and by
doing so receives “the innumerable benefits procured unto us by the
same.” BCP pg 335.

So, communion is first and foremost a remembrance celebration designed
to keep afresh the memory of that great act of Christ on the cross so
that by remembering and believing what Christ has done on the cross
once for all, believers receive anew the assurance of the forgiveness
of sins and all other benefits that come from Christ’s work on the
cross, the righteousness of Christ, peace with God, fellowship with
the saints, and the promise of eternal life, to name a few.

Next teaching – what is the priest doing and what happens to the
elements (bread and wine) during communion.