Yesterday I attended 5 o’clock Mass at the Duomo. An Irish (?) priest officiated in English, and two women read the scripture and passed the offer plate. The Gospel reading was the story of Lazarus; the message was the expectation and acceptance of change.
I took communion, not because no qualifying invitation was offered, but because I wanted to take in the spirit of love. I attend a church where anyone who wants to follow Jesus’ example of love is invited to the table. That is how I always approach communion, and so it was yesterday. I need all the reminders I can muster to keep a loving heart. Communion is one way for me.
The Roman Catholic church preaches love and following Jesus. But their invitation to communion is limited to those confirmed in the church, and who thus believe in transubstantiation, that the bread and wine actually becomes the body and blood of Christ. This dogma goes back to the councils of the fourth century when, for its very survival, the growing church was dealing with heresies. What was important then, may not be important now. When should we hold on to tradition? When is it time to let a tradition go?
Christianity and Christians have always been challenged by what to take literally in the Bible, and what to interpret metaphorically.
What did Jesus mean when, according the Luke 22:20 he said:
“This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” ...
What did Paul mean in Corinthians 11:24: and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of Me.”
The Church may have its answers, but individual Christian have theirs. We come to their own understanding of what communion means so we can be loving.
I took communion, not because no qualifying invitation was offered, but because I wanted to take in the spirit of love. I attend a church where anyone who wants to follow Jesus’ example of love is invited to the table. That is how I always approach communion, and so it was yesterday. I need all the reminders I can muster to keep a loving heart. Communion is one way for me.
The Roman Catholic church preaches love and following Jesus. But their invitation to communion is limited to those confirmed in the church, and who thus believe in transubstantiation, that the bread and wine actually becomes the body and blood of Christ. This dogma goes back to the councils of the fourth century when, for its very survival, the growing church was dealing with heresies. What was important then, may not be important now. When should we hold on to tradition? When is it time to let a tradition go?
Christianity and Christians have always been challenged by what to take literally in the Bible, and what to interpret metaphorically.
What did Jesus mean when, according the Luke 22:20 he said:
“This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” ...
What did Paul mean in Corinthians 11:24: and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of Me.”
The Church may have its answers, but individual Christian have theirs. We come to their own understanding of what communion means so we can be loving.
RSS Feed