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Ewell Monastery round table.
Photo: Living the Eucharist: © Patrick Burnier & Springs Dance Company.
The
Encounter
of
Faith
- in the experience
of
Eucharist
Faith/trust, as part of our own self confidence was the topic of our first article in this series on faith. In the second article when we explored out beyond our own boundaries into poetry, painting and music, we could see that it was not entirely without substance to say that we can trust that there is some ultimate meaning in life. Last time in article 3 we explored our experiential relationship with Jesus, the risen Lord. Now it is time to bring together these ideas in an exploration of the place of faith/trust in the worship of Eucharist.
It is no accident that the Christian eucharist has always been central to faith. It is rooted in the Last Supper and in Jesus as host in the various appearances and meals with the disciples. Centuries of usage did, however, bring various imbalances to the celebration of eucharist. We are all aware of these in the history of our own traditions in the churches. Theologians may argue the toss about all this but in the long run everything depends on our own intrinsic faith in, and experience of, Jesus the risen Lord.
First of all, the faith and trust that we can individually show in Jesus, as Lord, brings us to the need to affirm that the prior point of eucharist is the person of the risen Lord himself. Not Jesus as a person in the past but the Lord as he is with us now. When we think about it, he is the one, in and through our faith, who invites us to celebrate this thanksgiving with him. The hurrying feet to all the churches is a response to his invitation! Not the regulations of the churches nor any peer pressures. In the light of all our religious controversies of the past, that can appear either terrifying or a beam of light in the darkness!
When Jesus is known as the actual host and centre of our worship in eucharist before the Father, communion in the bread and wine are then seen as all part of our sharing with Jesus. Faith reveals to us that we know him as we share in the meal with him. Things come naturally into focus when the material elements of bread and wine cease to have a life of their own apart from him. But, like every ordinary meal, the food is still important. Our worship, linked indissolubly with the risen Lord, bears fruit in our participation in the bread and wine.
Eucharist has often been seen as the corporate celebration, in anticipation and faith, of the great Banquet that some have thought to be the final conclusion to God's purposes. That may or may not be true! But certainly, eucharist is that corporate worship which, in principle, enfolds the whole of life. It is truly corporate. It is a rejoicing and joyful sharing in the love of the Redeemer for all. So, what about those who seem to have missed out both on faith in Jesus the risen Lord and the praise of eucharistic joy? It is hard not to feel that everyone is welcome to the joy of eucharistic worship, should they come in to share in it. Yes, there are rules of faith and baptism and belief. But, given that it is Jesus who is the focus of eucharist, he at least would surely not envisage turning anyone away from the possibility of sharing in others' faith and trust - and love?
In the next article we need to look at the life that flows out of faith and eucharistic thanksgiving into discipleship and prayer.
FOOTNOTE
The round altar, which we built at the monastery, came into being almost by chance when we renovated the mediaeval barn and needed a new altar. In hindsight, it was a prophetic sign of fruitful thinking and actions to come!
The second photo, above, shows the building of the table by the dancers of Living the Eucharist when they had finally, after 45 minutes, accepted Jesus' invitation to celebrate with him instead of vacillating and doing their own thing.
Copyright © Aelred Arnesen
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