Tag: communion

October 14, 2025

Good morning,

As a Mennonite, you might have celebrated Communion this past weekend. For most of Mennonite history we celebrated the Lord’s Supper twice a year, Good Friday and around early October. World Communion Sunday is the first Sunday in October. As we understand, the Catholic Church celebrated the Mass everyday. Two very different understandings of the bread and the cup. The early church celebrated the Supper every time they ate together ( according to Acts  ). After the early baptisms in Zurich in 1525, the Anabaptists were having communion all the time. 

In John 15, returning to the last meal, Jesus describes who he is. He says, ” I am the true vine “. This is the final of seven ‘ I am ‘ statements that Jesus calls himself as recorded by John. For John, these are words that define who Jesus is. He states, ‘ I am the bread of life… I am the light of the world … I am the door of the sheep… I am the good shepherd… I am the resurrection and life… I am the way the truth and the life… ‘. John’s Gospel is framed around these ‘ I am ” statements. The other Gospel writers do not shape the life of Jesus this way. This is connected to the God of the Old Testament. When Moses sees the burning bush, God says, ” I am who I am “. I think, believe, that Jesus is connecting to God in this way.This wraps up this teaching here at the dinner table. I wonder who told the writer that Jesus said all these things ?

As you probably know, I am not a literalist in my understanding of the Bible. I think we are always interpreting the word of God for our lives as a group of believers. I am a volunteer interpretative guide at The Mennonite Story, and I am telling the people who come to the cabin/museum that one of the beliefs that Mennonites broke with the Catholic church was about the bread and the cup. Catholics believe that the bread and cup turn into the flesh and blood of Jesus during the Mass. Mennonites thought that was not right. But in John 6:

 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.  For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.  Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. ( verses 53-56 )

Hmmmmmm…

Fred

black and white shadows

crush humanity’s freedom

October 8 and 9, 2025

Good morning,

The Last Supper

Most churches celebrate the last meal that Jesus has with his friends. Catholics can have bread and cup everyday. Most Mennonites do the meal twice or three times a year. The Quakers remember, but do not do the drinking and eating of the meal.  How important is taking the bread and cup for your faith ? What happens to you when you take the sip and eat a small piece of bread ? Catholics believe that the cup becomes the actual blood of our Lord, and then the bread is transformed into the actual flesh of Jesus. There is great mystery in this, and by taking the communion elements the grace of God comes down upon you and in you. Mennonites are supposed to be in the right relationship with our sister and brothers before we can come to the table. John in his Gospel does not say that.

At the end of chapter 14 of the last meal, Jesus continues to confuse his friends. He is going away, but he will come back. I wonder if there was a harsh argument here with Peter, John and James and the others. ” Jesus, you said that you have brought the Kingdom of God to the world, and now you are saying you are going to leave… but then come back. ” ( and by the way, from a present-day disciple, you have not come back ). Teh Gospel does say that the disciples soemtimes get frustrated with Jesus,a nd that is just fine for a faithful person to say such a thing.
Jesus tells them he will not leave them alone . He will give them the ‘ Holy Spirit ‘. It is not a flesh and blood person, but a nebulous being that floats around the new community that is left without its leader. The Spirit is hard to describe. How does the Spirit play a role in your life ? Have you ever seen the Spirit move around, when you have not been able to hold  it. ?

” I have told you now before it happens,

                     so that when it does happen you will believe. 

                           I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. 

                                                   He has no hold over me,

              but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me. ” John 14:29-31

The Holy Spirit will help us in this world where the prince of this world is winning ? Oh no !!

Fred

black and white shadows

crush humanity’s freedom

Am I complicit ?