Christians have had many debates over what Eucharist is. Some have opined with big words such as transubstantiation –that is, the substance of the bread and wine change into the substance of the body and blood of Christ, while others have focused on memory, while still others have emphasized the love feast aspect of this meal. In most traditions it has been generally accepted as a sacrament while others have wondered if that is taking it beyond the purpose of memorializing an event. So, what is it?
It is all of the above! Why? Because Jesus said about the bread he broke, this is my body given for you, likewise he said about the wine, this is my blood shed for you. And then he went on to say, do this in remembrance of me. Therefore, how can we make a claim that the bread and wine which he gave and which we memorialize is not intended by Jesus to be his body and blood? Similarly, how can we deny that this breaking of bread and sharing of wine is done in Jesus’ memory? Furthermore, how can we deny it to be an outward sign of an inward Grace which we receive when we receive the body and blood of Jesus Christ?
Most important, Holy Communion is a time of giving thanks — the word Eucharist means giving thanks — to God for what God has done for us. In this gratitude we find communion with God and with God’s people.
All this to say, making human constructs barriers to God’s Grace is antithetical to the whole act of Eucharist which seeks to reconcile all of us with God through God’s Grace given to us in Jesus Christ. So, what is Eucharist? It is all of the above, and more importantly, it is a time and an opportunity for us to be reconciled with God. So, let’s receive it as such with gratitude and love.