In Quest of the Holy Grail?

We have seen headlines about how some have used the Eucharist to promote their own political and social agendas, by denying access if you believed this way or that way. We have seen one faith group deny a young girl access to her first Communion, because she had life threatening allergies that meant should not eat "their" bread.

Some faith groups will not let you partake of "their communion" if you are not one of their group.

One of the great quests of those who seek religious artifacts is what has been described as the "Holy Grail" - - the cup from which Jesus shared the Seder meal in the Upper Room in the final days before his crucifixion. Several groups have claimed to have it. One has it locked up, they say, and only one person gets to look at it once a year.

In reality all of us are seeking the "Holy Grail." We find it in different ways - - each in its own time - - each in our own response to the quest of the Holy One!

If everyone claims ownership in the "Holy Grail" then - -

Just whose cup is it, anyway?

It began so very grace filled when Jesus said - -

"Take this bread - - take this cup.......

As often as you do this, do it in remembrance of me."

It seems that ever since Jesus uttered those words that the church has laid claim to this celebrative meal of grace.

The church has established all kinds of rules and regulations and then declared them sacred and infallible.

The church has kidnaped and perverted the meal of grace and restoration - - in the name of God.

On a recent Sunday I was asked to be responsible for the entire service at our church, including the sermon. Our pastor was to be away that day. We are a church that serves communion every Sunday. I am a layperson and am not authorized, according to the Discipline of our church, to consecrate the elements. What were we to do? We wanted to continue our practice, so our pastor consecrated the elements earlier in the week before she left. Lay persons in our denomination are allowed to serve the elements once they have been properly consecrated.

My sermon topic that day was "Touchstones of Life." I talked about the touchstones from my growing up years and some of those in my adult life. I showed a picture of our church in an earlier location and asked how many still considered that building and what happened in it a touchstone in their lives. Many had been married and had their children baptized in that building.

As I came to my last touchstone, I walked to the table on which our communion elements had been prepared.

I then explained that Jesus left us with a Touchstone of Life by saying these words:

"Take this bread - - take this cup.......

As often as you do this, do it in remembrance of me."

I uncovered the elements, broke the bread and lifted the cup. I then shared these old and familiar words with our congregation:

And then as a "remembrance" of what Jesus Christ has done for us and continues to do for us, we shared the bread and cup of life with each other. We touched the elements of communion and remembered.

When our history is being written - - what will it say of how we lived out the command to take and eat, take and drink - - in remembrance of the one who offered up himself?

Or will it say how we so often missed out on this "meal of healing and grace" because a person of the right pedigree and with proper credentials was not present to lead us.

Will we be "law" filled or "grace" filled?

God grant that we lead with a grace-filled access to all that is Holy!

A Jim Lane Commentary

November 25, 2006