When we hear “communion” or “eucharist” or “the Lord’s Supper” we think of the Sunday sacrament.
Today, it’s celebrated with a small morsel of bread and a bit of wine.
But, in the 1st-century, it was a complete meal that brought God’s kingdom into the present.
Whereas, today, we think of communion as something personal (me and Jesus), the biblical image is one of justice and equality.
It was an image of community life, rather than individualistic piety, where God has already started to put things right.
Bottom Line
Table-Fellowship—what we know as Communion—is living out God’s future kingdom in the present.
Takeaways
- The prophet Isaiah had a vision of what the world will look like when God comes to put everything right. It will be a grand banquet where all nations recognize the God of Israel and he brings justice to the world by making sure there is enough for everyone. This is Isaiah’s Kingdom of God.
- The early church, as preached by Paul, made Isaiah’s future Kingdom a present reality through table-fellowship. By including everyone in this meal, who was willing to submit to the Law and live as if circumcised in heart, they were able to demonstrate the community’s communion with God and one another.
- However, this communion was threatened by both Judean and Gentile culture. The Judeans threatened it by insisting that Gentiles practice Judean observances of the Law, such as circumcision, Sabbath-keeping, and food-laws. The Gentiles threatened it by insisting on celebrating table-fellowship through Roman banquet practices that divided people into stations.
- However, when everyone partakes of the same bread—that is, the teaching given to us by Christ, which is the bread of life—then it’s possible to overcome the obstacles and bring the kingdom into the present.
New Testament Themes: Table-Fellowship
Fr. Tim was told us the the fellowship our that we modern Orthodox practice is a continuation of the liturgy. Maybe he meant that it was the “meal” that you speak of here. Be it a meal or fellowship hour, it does create a lively community. On the rare occasions where I miss the fellowship hour but still attend liturgy, I feel as though I have missed a part of “church” that day. Interesting.
Yes, that’s a great way of thinking of fellowship (coffee hour). After all, after we partake of the Body and Blood of Christ and are transformed, we are called to go out and be the Body and Blood of Christ in the world to transform it.
The podcast was very interesting. I appreciate the Orthodox use of the term “community” (at least in our parish it’s used often). And in general, even when I was a Protestant and today as an Orthodox Christian, “community” plays out. I have often thought that Christianity allows all to fellowship together. What ever church community I have been a part of there has been a great variety in membership. There were singles, the less well off, widows/widowers, older couples and younger couples. There have been families and those with no children. There were single parents. Teens and college age each bringing themselves to Church without the prodding of Mom or Dad. It felt like family. In fact when I was on the Elder Board of a Lutheran church in town, I knew of the fellowship our that the Orthodox held each and every Sunday. I proposed starting a fellowship hour to the rest of the Elders. We instituted a fellowship hour and I believe they are still practicing that today (well not with covid). People loved that time of mingling, eating, conversing, helping each other through prayer requests and/or physical needs.