Growing up, I found myself as someone who pushed away from tradition as many young people do. I believed that the traditions of old were antiquated and no longer held relevance or significance in the world today. I believed there had to be better, more innovative, more enlightened ways of doing things. The practice of communion itself stands in direct opposition to that line of thinking. In the Lord’s Supper we have something unique, a practice that Jesus both commanded and that he participated in. In this long-standing tradition, we now partake of the bread and the cup in remembrance of the blood Jesus shed and the way his body was broken for the forgiveness of the world’s sins. In this sacrament, we have a tradition that stands the test of time. A tradition that consistently reminds us of the necessity of Jesus’ sacrifice and invites us to remember that daily.
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”
Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
Matthew 26:26-29