August 30, 2009 Patrick Preheim
Bread for the Journey
Paul celebrates communion on board a storm riddled ship in the midst of pagan
sailors to encourage them; not the circumstances we usually think of when
considering the Lord’s Supper. And yet the story is clear. The text says he took
bread, gave thanks, and broke the bread and these words are not idly chosen.
With minor variation this phrasing is found at sacramental meals throughout
volume one of the Luke—Acts testament. In Luke 9, Jesus feeds five thousand
using this phrasing (v.16). In Luke 22, Jesus institutes the Lord’s Supper using
this phrasing (v.19). In Luke 24, Jesus is made know at Emmaus when he uses this
phrase to bless to the evening meal (v.30). When we are hungry (Luke 9), when we
are frightened (Luke 22), when we are grieving (Luke 24), when people join the
church (Acts 2:42), when we are joyful (Acts 2:46), when we face fierce storms
(Acts 27) we have been shown that it is good to break bread.
Do the pagan sailors know the symbolism behind Paul’s act? No, not any more than
arrogant and weak willed disciples understand the words of Jesus in Luke 22.
Jesus and Paul will not wait until their crews fully understand the mystery of
God’s presence with us to share with them a meaningful ritual. Paul treated the
sailors in the same way Jesus treated his disciples. v.34, just before the words
of institution in fact, has several discipleship phrases. Paul parakalo(s)--“urges”--
(παρακαλ? (parakalō)) the sailors to take some food. Parakalo has the same root
as paraclete, which John’s gospel says is the Holy Spirit. Secondly, Paul says
that their eating will contribute to their salvation σωτηρίας (sōtērias). This
bread he encourages them to eat has everything to do with salvation, and only
secondarily survival. And finally Paul tells them at the end of verse 34 that
not a hair of their heads will be lost. These are the precise words Jesus told
to his disciples in Luke 21:18 (on these last two points see Robert Tannehill’s,
The Narrative Unity of Luke-Acts: A Literary Interpretation; volume two: The
Acts of the Apostles—pp 334-337). The disciples of Luke 21 have become the
sailors of Acts 27. And then both Paul and Jesus use the celebration of the
Lord’s Supper as a place of education and invitation. Paul sees the sailors as
disciples in formation.
We preside over communion today before the congregation which is a blend of
newly baptized (Acts 2), confused or arrogant disciples (Luke 22:14-34), and
rain ravaged sailors. We are calm. We know that God has purpose for this ship
called Nutana Park Mennonite Church and the people on board. We believe the
bread of heaven, and the ritual of taking bread together, will form us more
deeply into the disciples God sees us becoming. We preside over this meal so
that we all may be encouraged: doubters and believers alike.