The Importance of Corporate Communion (Even During COVID)

“Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty firmament! Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to His excellent greatness!” (Psalm 150:1-2 NKJV)

I love the story of the first miracle that Jesus did.

I love that Mary pulled Jesus’ public ministry into the limelight before it was time. And I love that Jesus created wine for a party. Jesus loves celebration. We can celebrate alone, of course, but more often a celebration is an experience we want to share with the people we love. When we take Communion, it is our chance to celebrate with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Jesus has changed our lives, and that deserves a party. After all, what’s a celebration without friends? There is something sacred about corporate Communion—partaking of the body and blood of Christ with the vibrant, diverse Body of Christ. Communion is a vertical realigning of ourselves with Christ, but it is also a horizontal realigning—we are the Body of Christ.

God loves unity. It was His idea. This is why examining our hearts is such an important part of Communion. Not because we have to prove to God that we’re worthy of His blood and body. We already know that’s impossible. We examine our hearts because it’s a time of reunion, both with the Spirit of God and with our fellow believers. In corporate Communion, we get to stand with others and confess that He took a burden from our shoulders that we could never carry. Experiencing that radical grace means that we now get to access and release that grace to others. We get to offer forgiveness to others, cleansing our hearts from the detrimental effects of bitterness and unforgiveness. Jesus loves His Church. He is coming back for a strong, healthy, and united Bride.

Thank You, Jesus, that You care about my relationships with those around me. Help me to give grace to others often and with ease.