In all Christian denominations, communion is celebrated in one form or another. In the Catholic faith it is celebrated at every mass. In others, it may be weekly or monthly. No matter the frequency, there is something sacred about this practice of drinking His blood and eating His body as Christ commanded. However, as sacred as it is, there is more. There is a mystery; a deeper communion to which we need to surrender daily… hourly.
However, it requires letting go of the lie of separateness. If His Spirit is in us, then we are never separate from God; always in communion with Him. Yet why are we are always seeking to get to some state where we are one with Him? Aren’t we the body of Christ? Yes! Somehow, spiritually, we are the very body of Christ! Somehow, we can partake of the life of Christ. In fact, we are called to share His entire life throughout time and space!
We share in His suffering:
Colossians 1:24
Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.
Romans 8:17a
Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings
We share in His death:
Romans 6:4a
We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death
Colossians 3:3
For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
We share in His resurrection:
Romans 6:5
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.
Colossians 3:1
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
We share in His glorification:
Romans 8:17
Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
We will share in His second coming:
Colossians 3:4
When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
These are amazing truths! I do not want us to come away from these scriptures feeling that all that they mean is that we must be like Christ or that it is all symbolic. I believe that the life of the Christian is so united with Christ that we reach out across time and space and partake with Him in His suffering, death, resurrection, glorification and second coming. As we commune with the eternal Christ now, we inherit all He ever was and who He ever will be because He exists in eternity!
We are called to eternal communion with Christ! Right here, right now… He is here.
Matthew 28:20b
And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.