Isaiah prophesied in chapter 53:5 saying, “he was pierced for our transgressions he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”  On this day we remember; the last supper, the betrayal, the arrest, the mockery, the crown of thorns, the scourging, the long walk to Golgotha. Regularly we remember the broken bread representing His broken body; the cup of blessing representing His blood sealing the eternal covenant.  We call it communion remembering Jesus’ passion for us. His love for us compelled him to laid down his life for  you and I: to save, to resuscitate, to resurrect, to make a way by faith through grace once for all.   So we could all discover our belonging within ourselves and realize our belonging to God and others. Given a second chance to re-emerge new people with a new way of living.  What help us understand such a great love? 

Communion is an important part of my spiritual life.   This may be because of my Catholic upbringing as Communion was the centerpiece of each Mass.  However, I had an experience of personal significance that took place one hot summer night in the little Baptist Church. The preacher had been preaching on the Blood of Jesus.  It was a powerful message. He said, “If you were the only person on the face of the earth, Christ would have died just for you.” The preacher finished the sermon and we sang a  hymn while the communion service commenced.  “What can wash away my sin…nothing but the blood of Jesus…What can make me whole again…? Nothing but the blood of Jesus… Oh! Precious is the flow that makes me white as snow… No other fount I know…Nothing but the blood of Jesus.  As I was holding the grape juice, my emotions got the best of me and a tear fell into the cup.  The reality of my tears mingled with the sacramental element helped me experience Christ in that present moment.  Over the years, this experience has held me when I doubted God’s love for me. Communion has never been the same.   I encourage you to find a Christian community this Easter. Go expecting.  Whenever two or three or more gather Jesus said in the midst of them I AM.   Communion with others and God opens us up to the reality of our belonging!