One Loaf, One Cup: The Gift of Connection and Communion

“Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we who are many are one body, for we all partake in the one loaf," (1 Corinthians 10:16-17).

To commune is to live together as a shared community. According to the New Oxford Dictionary, communion is a sharing or exchange of thoughts and feelings. Jesus gave us an exchange in the last meal he shared with the disciples. Matthew 26:26-28 states, "Jesus took bread, gave thanks, and broke it, saying to the disciples, 'This is my body.' He then took the cup of wine and said, 'This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.'"

Jesus never meant for us to be apart from Him, the body of Christ. We are a community, His Church, holy and set apart. The 'one loaf' and 'one cup' symbolize our unity in Christ, meant to be shared as one, with like thinking and love. He is the Bread of Life, and his blood covers our sin and shame.

When we take the elements of communion, we come together in communion, allowing the reality of Jesus' sacrifice to settle into the very core of our being. This moment invites us to reflect deeply on His love and sacrifice, as Revelation 1:5b-6 reminds us that we receive life and freedom through His blood and broken body.

To those not in Christ, this may seem like a silly ritual straight out of a gothic novel, but to us, filled with the life-saving awe and power of the Holy Spirit within us through Christ, this is life. The body of Christ in communion with one another is a sacred act of surrender to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, reflecting our reverence and devotion.

Prayer: Father, I praise You for Your great love for me. I praise You for the communion You left us with, for being the Bread of Life, and for washing our sins away through Your blood. Father, we give You reverence and surrender to the power of Your Spirit. In Jesus name, Amen.