Readings: Luke 24:28-31, 1 Cor 11:23-26

Did you know that every second of every day the people of the world take 591 photographs? That's 51.1 million every day. Why do we do that?

We spend all that money on all those photographs to augment our memory, so that we can remember. We human beings need all the crutches we can get to augment our memory.

And that is the FIRST key to understanding what Communion is all about. For Jesus himself said when he instituted this meal: Do this in REMEMBRANCE of me. Communion is one of the oldest ways that Christians have worshipped. Even in the earliest days of the church when 1 Corinthians was written, Paul talked about it as something that was being passed down. It even dates back to Jesus and his twelve disciples.

This was a special night. Eleven of the twelve there with Jesus knew it was special because this was the Seder meal, the preparation for the celebration of the Passover, a highlight of the religious year. Jesus and Judas knew it would be special for another reason - this would be the night of betrayal. Nothing would be the same for that close-knit group ever again.

Prior to the meal, Jesus must have been thinking about what he would say so his disciples would remember all that they had said and done together in the preceding three years. So Jesus took this simple meal placed before them, and made it so each time they gathered and retold the story they would never forget. Do this in REMEMBRANCE of me. We do it in order, like those millions of photographs, to REMEMBER.

But there is a SECOND key to understanding what Communion is about. Paul says something interesting. He says that in communion we PROCLAIM the Lord's death until he comes again. We think of communion as a way to REMEMBER what Jesus did, but we often do not think of it as PROCLAIMING like a sermon. But it does.

In the communion service we tell the story of how God has saved us through Christ. Through the symbols of bread and wine we tell how Jesus body was broken and his blood shed for us. We also show that because of that shed blood we are fed spiritually. In communion we proclaim that God saves us through Christ's death.

So when we take part in communion we witness to our faith in Jesus' death and resurrection. Communion is not just a noun, it is also a verb. It is not just a word to refer to a ceremony, in is a verb that refers to an action. It is not just something we take. It is something we do. Because in doing it we both REMEMBER and PROCLAIM Christ's death and its power to save us.

And there is a THIRD key to Communion. For something more happens in communion. When we gather together to REMEMBER and to PROCLAIM the good news that Christ's blood was shed to feed us spiritually, we are not alone. Christ is in our midst. And that affects each of us. Communion is a means of grace. Through it Christ ministers to us.

For our reading from Luke I chose the part of the Emmaus story when Christ broke the bread and was revealed to the disciples. For just as the risen Lord was with those pilgrims on their journey, the risen Christ is with us. And when we remember how he died to give us eternal life, it is an opportunity for Christ to minister to us. We REMEMBER his death, we PROCLAIM, but we also enjoy his gracious PRESENCE with us as we share in bread and wine.

Leslie Weatherhead once told of talking with a member of his church about the meaning of communion. The man replied to his distinguished pastor, Oh, I cannot follow all that goes on. I just sit and think quietly about Jesus. I think of that last week with his friends, and the Last Supper, and how he knelt in agony in Gethsemane, how they arrested him and all night tortured him, and how he died. I get very near to Jesus then, Sir, and when I go home, he comes with me.

Now, if you think you are getting away with a three point sermon this morning, you?re out of luck! For there is more!

A FOURTH key to understanding Communion is to consider that Communion is not just about communion between me and Jesus. It is also communion with one another. The bit of bread and sip of juice will not do much to fend off physical hunger; but the hunger we all feel, the hunger for connectedness, for community, for family, for assurance that we are not alone in this world is surely fed. How does it happen? No one can explain it. As John Calvin said, I rather experience it than understand it.

This is why we use one loaf, because, as Paul said: We are one body, for we eat of the one loaf. This meal is Sunday dinner for the people of God!

And a FIFTH (and final) key. Sometimes this meal is called the EUCHARIST. And that is a Greek word which simply means THANKSGIVING. So this table is understood as a feast of thanksgiving. We come to these elements of bread and wine with thankfulness. This is for us in all our need. Gratitude is what marks this table. How shall I repay the LORD for all his goodness to me? I will come to this table and lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD. What else can you do.

Jesus came not to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom. Thankfulness can be the only fit response to that. But we can also step into Jesus' shoes and live a life of service. We exist not to be served, but to serve and spend our lives in giving. In the face of God's goodness to us we need to give thanks and offer ourselves for serving others in Christ's name.

Communion can be described in many ways and has many meanings. Like many things in the Church it contains layers of meaning that only become clear to us as we experience it over and over. Communion it like that - it cannot be described in just one way. Many Christians call Communion a mystery. That means that we can only try to describe it, but we can never fully understand all its complexities.

But there are some things we CAN say. It is a time to REMEMBER ? it is a time to PROCLAIM ? it is a time to enjoy the PRESENCE of Christ among us ? it is a time to recognise that we are FAMILY ? and it is a time, above all, to be THANKFUL.

Once when a preacher was marrying a young couple, he put the usual question: Do you take this woman to be your wife, to love her, comfort her, honour and keep her ... and so on? The answer was not the usual soft, reserved I do, but rather, Yes sir, that's what I came here for.

In a few moments, you will be invited to the Lord's Table as we share our Christian family meal. Our response to the invitation is most often the equivalent of that soft I do, but this morning we can make it, Yes sir, that's what I came here for.