For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.”

1 Corinthians 11:23-24

As we have seen, there was a major problem in the way the Corinthian church was celebrating the Lord's Supper. Because they did this in the context of an ordinary meal, cultural conventions prevailed. Thus, wealthier members of the church were enjoying a fine meal together while poorer members were going hungry. The result was a divided church that did not reflect the unity of Christ.

So how did Paul respond? Did he tell the wealthy Corinthians to knock it off? Did he instruct them to share their food with others? Did he forbid receiving communion in the context of an ordinary meal?

No, curiously enough, Paul's response to the problem in Corinth was virtually devoid of practical instructions. He did not tell his church, in tangible ways, how to fix what was broken. Rather, he turned their attention to the core meaning of the Lord's Supper. Paul began with what matters most of all: the death of Christ, that which is signified in communion.

In fact, Paul reminded the Corinthians of the tradition that he had passed on to them, a tradition that began with Jesus himself. He focused on the actions of Jesus in the Last Supper, and especially the words of Jesus that provide the core meaning of Communion: "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me" (11:24). "This cup is the new covenant between God and his people – an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this to remember me as often as you drink it" (11:25).

When it comes to living out our faith in Jesus Christ, and when it comes to doing this in the often confusing and sometimes discouraging context of Christian community, we don't need a set of rules to govern our behavior. Rather, we need most of all to focus on what matters most: the death of Christ and its significance. We need to remember the grace of God given in Christ. We need to focus our attention on the cross and its implications. This, more than rules and guidelines, will lead us into behavior that honors God and our brothers and sisters in Christ. Moreover, when we remember the cross, we willingly and gratefully offer ourselves to God in response to his grace. The Christian life becomes not a matter of obeying all the rules, but of joyful surrender to God.

The Apostle Paul believed that if the Corinthians would remember the meaning of the Lord's Supper, if they would focus on the cross, then their behavior in communion would begin to reflect the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ. This, more than a list of dos and don'ts, would transform the Corinthian community into a unified church that reflects the good news of God's love in Jesus Christ.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: How would remembering the death of Christ help the Corinthians to mend their broken fellowship? How has reflecting on the cross made a difference in the way you live as a Christian?

PRAYER: Dear Lord, I must confess that I rather like rules and guidelines. Not that I live by your rules . . . not by a long shot. But there is something secure and clear about a list of dos and don'ts. I think if I had been in Paul's position, I would have laid out a bunch of instructions for the Corinthians.

Thus, I am both chastened and instructed by Paul's example. Inspired by your Spirit, he didn't tell the Corinthians exactly how to behave in communion. Rather, he reminded them of its core meaning. He pointed back to the cross, to what matters most of all.

Help me, dear Lord, to live in light of the cross. Help me to remember your grace each day, so that I might receive it and give it away. Help me to see how the cross brings unity to your people, and how it calls you people into mission. In all I do and say, may I "lift high the cross!"

All praise and glory be to you, Lord Jesus Christ, who died for this world, even for me, that we might have life. Amen.