Rev. Otis E. Young 1931 – 2009

Sunday, June 29, 1975

What Can This Mean? (Communion Sermon)

Luke 24:13-18,28-35

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Ordinary Time
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Luke
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Summary and themes

In Dr. Young's sermon on Holy Communion, he delves into the historical and symbolic significance of the practice. He highlights the celebratory nature of eating throughout history and how Holy Communion originated from the Jewish tradition of celebrative religious meals, particularly the Passover. Dr. Young emphasizes the simplicity and communal aspect of early Christian gatherings around meals, focusing on remembrance of Jesus. He contrasts the elaborate ceremonies that developed later with the more informal and communal origins of the practice. Ultimately, he stresses that Holy Communion serves as a way to connect with Jesus, the historic church, and each other, symbolizing God's invitation to his table.

Summaries and themes were prepared to help with searching and may not capture every nuance of the sermon.

Sunday, June 29, 1975

WHAT CAN THIS MEAN? (Communion Sermon)

Luke 24:13-18,28-35

I. Many Protestants in our tradition are confused about the meaning of Holy Communion.

1. First of all note that eating, aside from being necessary, has always in history had its celebrative aspects.

a. special events like weddings, victory celebrations, birth, parties, banquets.

b. we honor someone by having them eat at our table and we are honored by someone’s presence, or they honor us by inviting us.

2. But what about Holy Communion in this context? It has its roots in the Jewish tradition of celebrative religious meals. Mostly the Passover.

a. At the first last supper, Jesus and his disciples had gathered to celebrate the Passover.

b. Jesus turned the meal into something new by using the common elements of bread and wine. Body and blood.

c. Following the crucifixion and resurrection, we know the disciples gathered regularly for meals. It helped them recall Jesus and they always remembered the last supper.

d. Many or most of these communion services were informal, like the one described in our scripture lesson. Christians eating together and talking about Jesus.

3. The Early Church continued the practice of a common meal each Sunday, a weekly celebration of Easter and as part of this meal took bread and wine and recalled the last supper.

4. Later in Church History it became a much more elaborate ceremony and grew into the Roman Catholic Mass.

5. Along with this elaborateness came the belief in “transubstantiation.”

This gave the priests a unique power available only to them. Christ sacrificed again.

The Reformation changed this. And we’re back to the beginning.

II. What then does it mean for us today?

1. It recalls the history of Jesus Christ and our roots in the Jewish tradition.

2. We see ourselves as part of the historic church by re-enacting the ancient ceremony.

3. We see ourselves as part of humanity and related to each other.

4. God is the host and invites us to his table. Often in the N.T. the Kingdom of God is pictured as a banquet. We are honored to be invited.

5. Nothing magical or sensation. The Holy is often revealed in the Common.