Communion isn’t just between you and God. It’s communion with the worldwide body of Christ.
So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. (1 Cor 11:27–29 NIV)
The first Sunday in October is World Communion Sunday, observed by several denominations.
I had never heard of this day before. So what’s it all about?
Communion and the Body
The Greek word for “body” used throughout the passage on abuses of the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor 11:17–34) is sōma, used to refer to the body of Jesus in verses 24 and 27. It is also used in verse 29 — “discerning the body.”
This is also the same word used throughout 1 Cor. 12, when it talks about believers being different members of the body of Christ. Sōma can be used literally to refer to a body or corpse of a person or animal, or it could be used figuratively to refer to a society or family; a social body.
This is significant because the Apostle Paul was addressing divisions in the church at Corinth, calling for unity.
One way that the church was divided was in their observance of the Lord’s Supper: at the time, they didn’t all take a pinch of bread the way we do today; those with the means brought full-on meals (with alcohol, apparently), and the wealthier members of the church were bringing lavish spreads that they did not think to share with members of the church who might not even been able to buy a simple meal.
Paul encouraged the members to think of others and take the Lord’s Supper as a community. He admonished them to remember that the Lord’s Supper is not about satisfying one’s appetite, but about remembering Christ’s sacrifice of his sōma.
Taking communion isn’t just communing with Jesus; it is also communion with the body of Christ all over the world.
All believers are members of the same sōma regardless of race, nationality, socio-economic status, gender, or any other labels that the world uses to divide people.
Because of Christ’s sacrifice – his sōma broken and blood shed for us – we are united as one sōma.
When we take communion, we should remember the rest of the body of Christ: those who are persecuted in faraway countries, those whom we disagree with, those who are less fortunate than we are. If we fail to do this, we are taking communion selfishly, like the Corinthians who got drunk while their brothers and sisters went hungry (v. 21).
If I were to take communion without concern for other brothers and sisters in Christ, I would be taking communion in an unworthy manner, for I have not discerned the sōma.
Therefore, before taking communion this Sunday, I offer this prayer for the body of Christ:
A Prayer for World Communion Sunday
God, we come before you this morning
as we celebrate World Communion Day.
A time to commune with You
and commune with our brothers and sisters worldwide.
Thank you for the global church—
Your bride, Your beloved,
Your people called out from the world to be the light of the world,
Your ambassadors, created in Christ to do good works You have prepared.
Lord, You created us all.
In Your image, You form us.
Male and female, You created us.
Yet, in Christ, we are neither male nor female,
Jew nor Greek.
In Christ, we are the church.
Heirs of your promise,
the offspring of Abraham by faith.
In You, we are chosen,
a royal priesthood, a holy nation.
In Christ, we are one—
one body, with Christ as the head.
Thank you, Lord, for uniting us—by Your Spirit and by Your blood.
May there be no divisions among us.
May our communion not be in an unworthy manner,
with no regard for other members of Your body.
For if one part of the body is sick, the whole body suffers.
Therefore, we lift up our brothers and sisters worldwide in prayer:
We pray for those who are hungry—
may You provide for them
and may we remember our calling to feed the poor.
Forgive us for the times when we haven’t.
We lift up those who are sick.
Bring healing to them, Lord. Restore their health.
We pray for those contending with disasters and conflicts,
Deliver them, God.
Comfort them in their afflictions.
Grant them relief.
We pray for those who are persecuted for the sake of Your name.
Strengthen them, shield them, be their fortress and their refuge.
Prepare a table for them in the midst of their enemies.
We pray for missionaries as they go after the lost,
often in hostile territories.
Encourage them, God, and provide for their needs.
May they never grow weary.
May they know the joy of leading others toward You
while trusting You with the outcome.
Lord, God, remind us of Your will for all of humankind—
that all should come to repentance and be forgiven,
that all should come to know You.
People of every language, tribe, and nation.
clothed in white, worshiping at Your throne,
united in communion with You.
We pray in the precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Amen.
