Dear Friends,
It’s not often that a theological controversy finds its way into the headlines. But this last week we had reported that Roman Catholic Bishops in the United States were intending to deny President Joe Biden Communion on account of his support for abortion. The ‘Weaponization of the Eucharist’ as one commentator described it. I don’t intend to comment regarding ‘the rights & wrongs’ of the abortion debate – it is far too sensitive a subject to be dealt with in a few short paragraphs – neither do I want to comment in respect of Roman Catholic teaching on the subject. But I do want to address the questions, who is ‘entitled’ to receive/share Communion? Who has the right to decide who should/should not receive/share Communion? To my mind the short answers are, everyone and no one. But they each beg the wider question, just what is Communion for? Depending on the tradition within the Christian Church to which we belong we will be ‘expected’ to attend and participate in Communion – daily, weekly, monthly, yearly – the frequency is not important. What is important is that Communion is an essential aspect of Christian worship and witness; an essential component of the ministry and mission of the Church. It is never a good idea to ‘re-invent the wheel’ as it were and so I share with you what has always been for me the guiding principle when it comes to determining the nature and purpose of Communion. This is what John Calvin wrote in the middle of the 16th Century…
… ‘Let us remember that this sacred feast is medicine for the sick, solace for sinners, alms to the poor,’ he writes. ‘As poor, we come to the table to “a kindly giver; as sick, to a physician; as sinners, to the Author of righteousness; . . . as dead, to him who gives life.” Truly, the Lord’s Supper “is a sacrament ordained not for the perfect, but for the weak and feeble, to awaken, arouse, stimulate, and exercise the feeling of faith and love, indeed, to correct the defect of both” …
…In other words, Communion should be understood as a ‘means of grace’, i.e., a mystery within which God engages with each participant according to the particular circumstances of the person concerned. And because it is a ‘means of grace’ it must mean that regardless of the circumstances of the participant still God is able to ‘break through’ into their life experience in the simple act of eating bread & drinking wine, and in so doing having called to mind the unique significance attaching to the death of Jesus. Which must mean that it is vitally important that we do all we can to ensure that anyone and everyone is given the opportunity to participate in Communion. It isn’t for any of us to presume upon the credentials of any prospective communicant. The truth is that as far as a person’s faith is concerned; their moral outlook, their political affiliation, their social standing, their racial profile; ‘All are welcome here.’ My best friend, even my worst enemy…even Joe Biden