A Complex Math Problem

How many times have you received communion?  My math skills aren’t my greatest asset, and with my age and being a life-long Lutheran, it’s become a complex math problem.  

I grew up with communion once a month after 8th grade confirmation.  We had to announce our intent to commune one week in advance.  After moving to another church, we communed twice a month and then at another church it increased to every other week followed by weekly.  Serving in a church, there have been times when I’ve had communion three times on a Sunday. So, how many times have I received communion?  If anyone would like the challenge of this math problem, please let me know.  

My young friend Christopher at Messiah received his first communion on Easter Sunday.  The following Sunday he came to church all excited that he was “TAKING HIS SECOND COMMUNION!”  He was so happy and so animated!  It made me stop and think that this is the way it should be.  We all should be that motivated and eager each time we get to receive communion. Imagine someone walking in to worship as energized as Christopher and stating that it was their 24,012th time to receive communion!!

The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 11:26 - “For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” In Acts 2: 42 it is written “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

Martin Luther in his small catechism says:  “We should receive it (The Lord’s Supper) frequently; and hereto we should be prompted by Christ’s command and promise, and by the trouble that lies heavy upon us.”  My confirmation teacher, Pastor Cameron MacKenzie I, added, and I wrote in my small brown catechism at that point, “Receive it as often as it’s offered.”  

So this Sunday, thanks to Christopher, I will look forward to receiving communion with a little more excitement!