When I walked into Gracie Sanchez' apartment on Monday afternoon, I was surrounded by oxygen tanks. Because of her illness, she must be hooked up to oxygen almost all the time. Her circulatory system is not able to deliver the life-giving oxygen to all of her body without the extra help.
Because Gracie was unable to attend church on Sunday, I brought her communion. As she sat on her sofa, with the oxygen tubes inserted into her nostrils, we prayed together and she took the communion bread and cup, symbols of Jesus' body, broken for us, and of Jesus' blood, shed for us.
In a healthy body, the circulatory system works to pump blood to all parts of the body, which need the oxygen and nutrients that are carried in the blood. But, when a person gets sick, the circulatory system may not function as it should, and the body needs help.
Spiritually speaking, each of us is "sick" with the disease of sin. Our spiritual circulation is limited, at best, and is not able to function as it should, to deliver the life-giving breath of God to all the parts of our soul, spirit and personality that so desperately need it.
When I saw that oxygen tube in Gracie's nostrils, I thought of the story of creation, when "the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." (Genesis 2:7)
But man lost that spiritual life-connection to God when he sinned. (Genesis 2:17)
Somehow, that spirit life connection had to be restored if a holy God could ever dwell with sinful man again. So, the godhead (God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit) devised a plan, in which Jesus, the Son, would come to earth, live as a human being, die as a human, and be raised again to life by God, the Father. Then, He would send the Holy Spirit to live in human beings, restoring the spirit life connection to God.
The reminder of this life-giving act is what we call communion or Holy Eucharist. This is the time of the week (usually on Sunday) when we receive a symbol of Christ's body and blood into our own bodies, thus releasing the miraculous, life-giving power of God into our spirits.
I believe a miracle occurs each week when we receive communion. In my own life, I have been given the grace to forgive hurts, the wisdom to see things with greater maturity and acceptance, the guidance to solve difficult problems, the comfort to endure difficult situations and the joy of fellowship with other Christians.
Without taking communion on a regular basis, Christians become weak spiritually, like a heart patient who refuses to use the oxygen prescribed to her.
"For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which 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, He took the cup also, after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.' For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself, if he does not judge the body rightly. For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep." (1 Corinthians 11:23-30 New American Standard Version)
Perhaps Paul, who wrote this passage, wasn't speaking only of physical weakness, sickness and death for those who took communion in the wrong way. Maybe he was also referring to spiritual weakness, sickness and sleep, that keeps a person from seeing life as God sees it, keeps a person from having faith and hope, from practicing forgiveness and mercy, from experiencing joy in the Lord, for being thankful in all circumstances.
It is a scary thought to miss out on life, even while you are alive!
--Posted by Mama O.
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