It's About You

Ever notice how singular and specific the sacraments are? In your baptism, we were celebrating God's love for you -- just you -- no one but you. In confirmation it is you who offer thanks to God for His love -- and especially for His Holy Spirit. Holy Communion, the climax for you, is the moment when you receive the bread and wine. This is the moment you celebrate your union with Christ.

When we're thinking theologically, we note that the singular and specific words are “Do this for the remembrance of me.” For centuries there has been discussion about the meaning of remembrance (in Greek, anamnesis). A cleric and scholar told me “anamnesis” means “calling back”, that is the “calling back” of Jesus to each one of us.

It has nothing to do with the subtleties of Greek. It has everything to do with the singular and specific ministry of Jesus the Christ, the anointed one.

Ever notice that Jesus healed one-by-one? He may have healed hundreds, but He did so one-by-one: singular and specific.

When you receive the bread and wine at Holy Communion, Christ is celebrating His love for you: He is saying, “You and I are One.”

All of this is about God's love for each one of us, whether or not we deserve it. God is love, as we've said ever since Sunday School days. God's love is not a blinking light that goes on and off at His will; it means He is loving always, because He chooses to be. The Bible tells us so because the Christ told us so.

This is all about you and Jesus Christ, the anointed one.

 

Father Harold Strickland

top