I hope and pray that you are all well.
Yesterday was World Communion Sunday. I’m thankful that my wife Jody and I were fortunate enough to be able to celebrate this special day in church when so many are still unable to worship together.
World Communion Sunday was established in 1933 by an American minister who wanted to “bring churches together in a service of Christian unity” and to show “how each congregation is interconnected with one another” (Presbyterian Outlook 2002).
WCS was established in a time not unlike our own; there was a worldwide economic crisis and tremendous political unrest, with fascism on the rise in a number of countries. Like now, they were uncertain and divisive times.
With that in mind, yesterday’s service may prove to be one of the most important religious observances of the church year. I say that because it is a day dedicated to celebrating what unites us – globally – as opposed to what divides us. The global element is doubly important because we have been so focused on events in our own country. We have, of course, been concerned about what the Covid-19 pandemic is doing to our fellow citizens and to our economy. We have been caught up in the unending and ugly rhetoric leading up to the November elections (please God, make the ads stop!). And now that he has been infected, we are focused on the President’s health.
With everything that’s going on in the United States, there is a temptation to let the rest of the world go hang. We have enough problems without taking on anyone else’s, right? Everyone should take care of their own. An understandable perspective perhaps, but it ignores some important realities.
First, planet earth is a really, really small place and getting smaller by the day. While earth may seem big to us, it’s a matter of perspective. We’re all familiar with the view above. But, look at this photo from space of the earth and the moon:
Not super impressive. And if you travel farther out in space, the moon disappears completely and the earth looks like a small speck among other small specks. We think of earth as a beautiful blue marble, but it only appears that way at close range. At long range it looks like a mote of dust:
The space between people is also shrinking. With the advent of the Internet and global interconnectivity, borders exist more in people’s imaginations than in reality. Whether we like it or not, we are all connected.
While this may be news to us, it isn’t to God. Over and over God tells us that His desire is for us all to be “one” (John 17:21). But, we establish our little kingdoms and fight one another over bits of dirt forgetting what God has said through the Psalmist:
“The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” (Psalm 24)
This world is not ours; it is God’s. We ourselves belong to God. Perhaps our vision is too limited. Perhaps if we were able to grasp this reality and change our perspective, there would be peace in our families; peace in our communities; and peace on earth. That’s why, in my view, the observance of communion is so important. Some of my brothers and sisters in the faith don’t see it as anything other than a nice way to remember Jesus. I believe there is more going on. Just as many and diverse elements are brought together to create the bread and the wine, so through the sharing of this meal God brings together His many and diverse children. Through sharing the body of Christ and through the work of the Holy Spirit, we become the Body of Christ. One body.
Through Christ all divisions are healed. One particular petition from yesterday’s prayers really tugged at my heart: “Love the unloved through us.” If we could see one another from God’s perspective, all would be loved, all would be cared for, regardless of who or what they are. We no longer would be divided into “us” or “them,” the lovable or unlovable, friend or enemy. We would simply be one family. It’s just a matter of perspective.
Remember that you are loved. Stay well and wear the damn mask.
Divine Overtones 