Communing with the saints
At mass with my friend, I received grace through hospitality—without receiving bread and wine.
Last week Pope Francis may have suggested that Christians should move forward with sharing communion across denominations before theologians complete the work of doctrinal reconciliation. “Let’s not wait for the theologians,” he said, leaving the rest of us to ponder the implications of his remarks.
I attend a congregation in which communion is open to any willing participant. This is a commonplace in the United Church of Christ, the norm among United Methodists, and a growing trend in many Protestant churches. But I also respect my Christian friends who regard the Eucharist as a sign of church unity, one that requires doctrinal alignment or at least baptism. As I explain to my students, the table has a vertical dimension that reconciles us to God—but it also has a horizontal dimension that involves human relationships.
Last month we celebrated graduation at our seminary. During communion at our early morning baccalaureate service, I watched one member of the class of 2019 like a hawk. A fierce, theologically faithful Roman Catholic woman, Michele enrolled in seminary as her daughter was graduating. At the invitation to the table, Michele stood up. Would she receive communion at our Protestant seminary for the first time?
