Greed and the Eucharist
[Counts the people in the congregation, looks under the lid of the juice tray, then says…]
Do we have enough?
[checks the congregation, then the tray, again]
I think we have enough. ...But what if we didn’t?
Imagine this for a moment. Invent whatever story you need to (forgetfulness by the communion preparers, over-crowded pews, etc.), but imagine that the number of cups in these trays was less than the number of people here at this service. What do you think would happen as the trays got passed around? Knowing the people here, I would guess that some, even those who cherish their own celebration of the Lord’s Supper, if they knew there was a lack, would skip theirs in order to provide for others. Others here would scurry for the kitchen, to provide more. But there would be a desire, shared by many here, to make sure that no one went without this precious meal, the blood and body of Christ.
But what would the reverse look like? What if each of us, especially those passing the almost-empty trays near the end, instead of taking less or making more, took for ourselves, with no thought for the rest of the people? With an awareness of an impending need, they thought the body and blood of Christ was something to be grasped at, grabbed, and devoured. This… would be rude. It would be simple and obvious to label this Greed.
What is Greed? It’s easy to illustrate here at this table; we have specific expectations, it’s a limited scenario with a relatively predictable number of people here in this room each Sunday. But when you get away from this table, into the messy details of our everyday lives, the picture isn’t always so clear.
Augustine said that greed, covetousness, divides, but love, charity, gathers together. And in my illustration, those who, near the end of the tray, took graspingly for themselves separated themselves from those they passed the tray to. The charitable gave up their own, or looked for other ways to provide for all. When God reveals a need to you, do you gather the needy to yourself by looking for ways to provide for that need, either by sacrificing your own or looking for new resources? Or do you divide yourself from those in need, leaving them to fend for themselves?
Another definition of greed is keeping for ourselves what God meant for others. Everything we have is a gift from God—some is meant by Him as a gift for us, but some things He gives to us, but He means them to be used for others’ benefit. It can be difficult to figure out where the line is between these two categories, but that’s why we listen for the voice of God, for the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Every week God speaks to us through this illustration of His abundance, the limitless body and blood of Christ. Naturally, we would sacrifice to share this with others. In the week ahead, keep in mind this example of generosity, of charity that gathers people together, and ask God to help you discern where you, yourself, cross the line between prudently providing for your own, and gathering excess into your storehouses.
For this is what the Lord himself said, and I pass it on to you just as I received it. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant between God and you, sealed by the shedding of my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it." For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord's death until Jesus comes again.
Offering Meditation:
My wife is a long-suffering soul who knows by now that she married a man who keeps opposing ideas in tension, sometimes for longer at a time than seems necessary. Is it wrong to be comfortable? Maybe the ascetics have it right. Is it wrong to make less than a million bucks a year, if you can? Maybe earning less than you’re gifted to is actually burying your talent. *sigh*... How much should you put in the plate? I believe that God will guide you to that answer for your checkbook. We can help you listen, but you need to listen. And when you do hear, and obey, I also believe that God will give you peace about your decision. Give with generosity and joy.