6 October 2005

Now we will spend some time with Luther and the "communion of saints" from Paul Althaus' "The Theology of Martin Luther."

Luther begins to renew the concept of the "communion sanctorium" in two ways.
First, Luther brought down the community of the saints - in which he knew that he himself was a member of this community - out of heaven and down to earth.
...he recovered the fact that the saints in the New Testament, and particularly in Paul's letters are not a particular group in the community but all its members, that is, all who believe in Christ are saints. (p. 298)

This has a great impact on how we look at what takes place when we gather as the followers of Jesus in worship and around the Lord's Table. We are standing in the midst of the saints who are, in fact, all of us. There is no separate table set aside for a special group. There is only one people: the body of Christ. As we look around the room at the ordinary folk who have come to hear the gospel and take in the visible word of the Sacrament of the Altar, we are invited to remember those who have gone before us and share in the meal even as we sing and pray and move with those at our side. This reminds me of the wonderful Episcopal church in San Francisco that has a ring of people - saints throughout time - dancing around on the walls of the worship space. The community of saints are not present because of who we have been able to become. There are no box seats or sky-boxes reserved for some of the community. Rather, we rub shoulder and shake hands and sing and pray and laugh and cry as one people who have no need for special privileges or special treatment. This special event of worship with the Lord's Supper at its center makes all of us special because we have been invited by the Lord of All who longs to make us one - believe it and come gather together as though it is the only word among us.

Connection: There are too many places and situations in our daily lives that call for special handling and special passes and special dress and special connections. When the community of saints gather as the body of Christ in worship, there is no one who is not considered the blessed and cherished of God. Remember that today...because that is the power for new life no matter what the world may say about us.

Come, Lord of Life, and as you gather together your people, inspire us to be gracious to one another so that as we celebrate the feast of victory, we can appreciate how you already are shaping your blessed Reign among the ordinary saints who sit and stand alongside us. Amen.