Paul and the Eucharist: Food For Life
When Paul describes the Lord’s Supper in I Corinthians, he is giving them a reminder. He had already given them the Lord’s Supper when he founded the Church at Corinth. In this letter back to them, he is reminding them of how the Eucharist is to function in their lives.
This letter is written only between 15 and 20 years after Jesus’ death. In this early period, it seems the Eucharist was celebrated within the context of an evening meal. It had not yet become customary to celebrate it on Sunday morning.
Look at the problem which Paul sees there. “When you meet in one place, then, it is not to eat the Lord's supper, for in eating, each one goes ahead with his own supper, and one goes hungry while another gets drunk” (verses 20-21).
The Corinthian Christians would gather in the evening for a common meal. Before or after that meal, there was a blessing of bread and wine, as Jesus had taught. This is what Paul had handed on for their practice.
But at the meal some were eating before all the others arrived. And the rich people were not sharing their more sumptuous food with the poor. And, some were apparently drinking too much, as they might at other banquets.
So Paul is quite stern! “Do you not have houses in which you can
eat and drink? Or do you show contempt for the church of God and make those
who have nothing feel ashamed? What can I say to you? Shall I praise you?
In this matter I do not praise you” (v 22).
If the Eucharist does not open Christians up to each other, in charity and
compassion, the the Lord's Supper has failed, Paul seems to say. The Eucharist
is food for life. And the life we live is Christ's life. And Christ is love.
