First Holy Communion 2006
May 2006
The preacher had a band-aid (you know, a piece of elastoplast) on his chin. At the end of the sermon he apologised, “I'm sorry about this band-aid. I cut my chin this morning when I was thinking about my sermon.” Then a voice from the congregation: “Next time, why not think about your chin and cut the sermon?”.
Keeping in mind that you are all impatient to get out of here and celebrate, I will cut the sermon to the minimum. I remind you that the important celebration today takes place here in the church.
One day, in Kenya, a woman came to see me. I knew her fairly well having seen her from time to time in church. After the usual greetings and enquiries as to one’s general welfare, she told me that she wanted to come back to receiving Holy Communion again. After discussing the matter for a while I asked her why she wanted to recommence receiving at this particular time. She answered, “I want to live forever.”
At church the previous week she had heard the very same reading we had today: 'Anyone who eats this bread, which is my life, shall live forever.' And that is what our celebration today is about.
Holy Communion or 'The Eucharist' is God's pledge to you and I, that He will receive us into Eternal Life when the time comes for us to leave this world. When we receive Holy Communion we receive the life of Jesus.
Jesus told us: “In my Father's house there are many places to live in. I am going now to prepare a place for you, and after I have gone and prepared you a place, I shall return to take you to myself, so that you may be with me where I am.”
In Holy Communion we have the pledge, the solemn promise, of Jesus that we will live for ever with him.