O taste, and see that the Lord is good!
How often you have heard these words will depend on the frequency you have attended the celebration of Holy Communion/the Eucharist/the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. Over time, traditions change, scripture tells us clearly and emphatically that the practice of the early church was to “break bread together weekly.” In spite of the noble attempts by some reformers like Calvin, the Reformed church has not maintained the weekly practice.
In our Canadian experience, we recognize that we have inherited the Scottish traditions of quarterly and special times. Increasingly, communicators recognize the value of the experience of tasting and seeing that the Lord is good and that all learning is done through the ears of human experience. To do is to learn. Thus doing more often re-enforces the core beliefs of a faith dependant on the grace of God.
In our reflections about frequency, let us pause to remember what it is that we do and what it is that God does in this action.
First, let me be clear, that this sacrament is not now, nor ever was intended to be, a mere ritual of obedience to a legalistic belief about our goodness or deservedness. Frederick Buechner offers a helpful and mercifully non-technical definition of sacrament: “A sacrament is the breaking through of the sacred into the profane/common; a ritual is the ceremonial acting out of the profane/common in order to show it [our] sacredness. A sacrament is God offering his holiness to men/women; a ritual is men/women raising up the holiness of their humanity to God.”
One might choose to abridge this even further; a sacrament is something God does; a ritual something we do. In baptism and communion, God is present and active; indeed, God is the primary actor. God is present and active throughout all creation, but God has specifically promised to be present to us in the sacraments.
“Communion, like baptism, has many meanings. Forgiveness, Christ's presence, penance, community, hunger, feeding, Christ's body and blood, memorial, and sustenance are among the many dimensions of the meal Christians share.” — (This Thing Called Church)
Just as a family who gathers at a common table and eats a common meal together on a regular basis is seen by educators and therapists to have an advantage over and against those who don't, so it is true in healthy, vital congregations. The frequent practice of Eucharistic brings to our lives the centrality of God's gifts to us. And this reminds us of our gratitude — our thanksgivings, our capacities to be generous — because we are believers in a generous, gracious, forgiving God. If at the core of our hope is the desire to emulate Christ, then the experience of encountering Christ in the breaking of bread is a worthy thing to do more often.
O taste and see that the Lord is Good. Smell the bread, see the bread, taste the bread; smell the wine, see the wine, taste the wine. The ears hear familiar words, but we digest the meaning of the faith in the actions of doing this celebration—that God is present. God is with us; God has not abandoned us nor will our God do that! Our God is merciful, forgiving, empowering, lifting us up to new challenges and trials but always with us, each step of the way.
A Eucharistic faith is a core tenant of the Presbyterian tradition. It values forgiveness and hope in God who has redeemed our world and us. By our actions and deeds we are known. May we know that God is in our lives and be seen to offer Him the worship and praise worthy from us.
