Discerning the Body

Maundy Thursday
March 20, 2008

The Reverend Paul R. Abernathy, Rector

“I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you.”^[1] The Apostle Paul cites the tradition he had received from Jesus, which the church, ever since, largely has understood as instructive for the institution and implementation of the Eucharistic rite. However, tonight, I want us to look back – before two thousand years of Christian liturgical development – to see why Paul wrote as he did.

Looking at the immediately preceding scriptural context, Paul’s citation of the received tradition was an admonition to a Corinthian community that had forgotten the table hospitality of the common meal. Individual members and families, once gathered in community, typically, quickly would eat and drink the provisions that they had brought, hence, leaving little to share with late arrivers, who often were the poor.

Paul’s point, therefore, isn’t about Eucharistic etiquette, for example, that we must use these or similar words over the bread and the wine or even that we must use bread and wine. Paul’s point isn’t even about Eucharistic theology. Paul isn’t theorizing about why we do Eucharist, whether in remembrance of Jesus or anyone else! No. Paul’s point is about love and justice or, rather, its lack. Paul challenges the community’s tolerance of individual indifference to the maintenance of the bonds of affection of common social life.

As testified by this very evening’s agape meal, the Corinthians could have learned something from us! We know how to share. However, any learning of any value must be mutual. Therefore, we, in the conduct of our life at St. Mark’s, who so often lean toward our very individual understandings and desirings, could learn something from Paul.

That lesson, I believe, is found in words that come in the immediately ensuing scriptural context. Words that the lectionary framers must have considered too severe to be read in the polite company of the Christian community gathered for Eucharist. Words of condition and admonition concerning how the Eucharistic meal is partaken: “All who eat and drink without discerning the body, eat and drink judgment against themselves.”^[2]

Overly pious Christians have interpreted “discerning the body” to mean believing that the Eucharistic bread is the body, the real presence, of Jesus through which he provides us with a material means for our physical and metaphysical consumption of his very nature. I don’t believe that. At all. Yes, what Paul wants us to see is the holy presence, the sacred body of Jesus, yet, not in the bread, but rather in the gathered community.

My dear sisters and brothers, look around this night. Behold the body of Jesus in us. Behold that the body of Jesus is us.

May we tonight and every time we gather practice seeing the presence of Jesus in us. May we tonight and every time we gather see in the symbols of bread and wine spiritual food that we are to partake to strengthen our souls that we may love one another. May we, tonight and every time we gather, in practicing seeing and loving Jesus in us, leave this place with renewed strength to seek and to see and to love Jesus in every other person we meet.

[1] 1 Corinthians 11.23. The epistle reading appointed for the day is 1 Corinthians 11.23-26.

[2] 1 Corinthians 11.29 (italics added)