Article 12: The Lord's Supper - a celebratory feast

As we continue with our series on the confession of faith, we come to the next in a series of articles on worship practices of the church, Article 12: The Lord's Supper. Like baptism, this practice is common to most Christian traditions; and like baptism, each tradition tends to practice it in their own way. Some partake of communion every week, some once a month while others tend to share in communion one to four times a year. Some use wine while others use grape juice. Some share in a common cup while others use small, individual cups. Some use wafers while others use loaves of bread. Some serve it to people in the pews while others invite people who are able to come forward. Some eat the bread and then drink the juice while others dip the bread into the juice and eat them both at the same time.

Once again, method does not tend to be as important to us as meaning. There is variety among various Mennonite churches in how they practice communion and whether or not they even remain consistent in any one way. It is common among Mennonites to practice this ritual only a few times a year and typically Mennonites will use grape juice rather than wine. What tends to be more important to Mennonites, however, is the meaning behind the ritual and that it is a symbol rather than the literal body and blood of Christ, as some traditions believe.

For Mennonites, communion is a renewal of our covenant with God and with our church body, which is why we have historically emphasized the importance of being at peace with our brothers and sisters when we come to the table. It is also a reminder of Jesus' sacrifice for us and a way to give thanks for what God has done in our lives. Just as bread and drink nourish the life of our bodies, the symbolic body and blood of Christ remind us that Christ nourishes the church. What we tend to forget, however, is that this is a celebration and that in it we look "forward in joy and hope to the feast of the redeemed with Christ in the age to come."

We see this reality alluded to in Luke 22:14-20, 28-30. The original last supper has just taken place and Jesus refers to the kingdom to come of which the disciples will be a part. Likewise in Luke 24:13-35 we read of the road to Emmaus and the men who were traveling along after Jesus' death. A stranger joins them in their journey and they talk together about Jesus and all that has happened. They invite the stranger to stay with them rather than traveling along. In the midst of breaking bread together, their eyes are opened and they realize that it was Jesus walking along with them. In this way, communion is a ritual that opens our eyes to Christ and invites our celebration of His resurrection. Death has not defeated Him. He has defeated death.

It is common for us to be very somber and reflective when we take communion together and there is something significant about that. It is an important ritual and it should be approached with respect. At the same time, we should not loose sight of the fact that this is a celebratory feast of which we partake.