Paul rebukes: 'In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it.' The Lord's Supper was revealing the church's inequalities.
I lead a very diverse congregation. We have wealth disparity, racial differences, educational gaps. When we gather for communion, there's sometimes tension. Rich and poor at the same table. It's uncomfortable. Paul is saying: good. Let it be uncomfortable. Because when it bothers you, you're actually paying attention. The table reveals us. Do you see the poor person as less worthy? Do you protect your comfort over unity?
We've redesigned our communion practice to be slower, more intentional, more humble. We serve each other. Rich serve poor. Poor serve rich. It's a practice in recognizing each other's worth. Paul says the divisions were actually highlighting why they needed communion. They needed to remember: we're one body. The table keeps reminding us.
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