I don't want this tidbit to get away, because in speaking of origin, I think the Communion itself is the distilled blessing from the greater Agape feast, and that the feast should be brought forward to bear here. The function is not meant to be a stylized rite, but rather, the dinner table itself... The family of YHWH gathered around the dinner table.
There can hardly be a more fitting place for a family to gather together than around the table, and the evidence of that is shown around the world every single evening. The solemnity of the Communion blessing is as out-of-place without that table as 'saying grace' in the shower. And quite a bit (off the cuff, I would rather say 'all') of the governance concerning Communion reflects the table, not the blessing: Don't be a drunkard, don't be a pig, sit and participate worthily... These same conditions are at my own dinner table in my own house! People are excused and sent away for disrupting the peace of that table, that place of unity, joy, and love. I allow no argument there. No acting out. It is a place for family to remember that they ARE family!
This purpose has been lost - The function of Communion has become very personalized (which indeed, it should be). But much of it's meaning has been buried in rite. While it should be personal, when the blessing is over and one raises one's head and opens one's eyes, one should be able to look at the many, many brothers and sisters up and down the table, and know one has a seat there among the smiling faces of kith and kin. This is done better at the potluck after the service (as it began), rather than in the service itself - Then it's purpose would remain clear.
As in personally thinking of Christ's death, and (for Caths) the nature of the wafer nor how you are showing that toward other members of the body of Christ, which the Lord's supper is supposed to show.
roamer_1:
Well I commend you for at least recognizing the importance of Communion. So there is at least some basic agreement that the text referring to Breaking of the bread, Lord’s supper, etc are in reference to a Eucharistic celebration. Where we disagree I think it that the Liturgy of the Eucharist is, from the Catholic understanding [Orthodox would say as well] is the form of worship that came out of the Jewish Tradition into the Christian one and the one that developed organically from Christ thru the Apostles thru the early Apostolic Fathers of the Church. Early writings in the Apostolic Father period point to a centralized and Liturgical style of Worship with respect to the Eucharist. Any objective reading of the Didache, Saint Ignatius of Antioch and Justin Martyr will indicate that. What you are suggesting is that getting so caught up in the “Rite” and doing it a certain way might cause those participating in that Rite to forget the underlying meaning of it. One should leave the Eucharist closer to God and his fellow members of the Church and should take the Agape aspect of the Eucharist out into the world. I don’t disagree with that notion. the classic ending of the Roman Rite of the Mass is et Missa est, which means the Mass is sent, which when analyzed theologically, Catholics should and are called to take the Love of Christ which was experienced in the Eucharist out into the world and lives. Of course, many of us don’t always do that [me included] but thank God he is patient and his Grace, which I believe he constantly provides via same said sacraments will sustain me on the journey.
And I must add, your post was written not as a polemic, but as personal theological reflection on communion that doesn’t start out with, you darn Catholics are idiots and foolish, etc, etc, etc. Well written post.
...quite removed from the yearly meal of remembrance the Jews were ordered to observe.
Yup..
...munch this scrap of bread, wafer, whatever and sip this wine, grape juice, water and you'll be in GOD's good graces until the NEXT time you darken the church's doors.