How often have we said the Creed and breezed through the line “I believe in the Communion of Saints” without giving it much thought? Sure it’s a phrase that we have heard and even repeated throughout our lives without really thinking about it as more than just a line in a prayer.
The early Christians referred to all members of the community as “saints,” not necessarily because they achieved moral excellence, but because they were made “holy” by belonging to a “group” whose lives were connected in serving God. In this sense community and communion are synonymous with church which goes beyond a mere place of worship.
The Communion of Saints like the vine and the branches, connects all people in present time with those who came before, and those yet to be... it’s eternal. Love is eternal. God is eternal. God is love. We share love with one another. We share God with one another.
Yet, when we think of Communion it’s only natural for us to think of the Eucharist, (Mark 14:12-16, 22-26) the sharing of the Lord’s Supper with one another. Here’s where the line in the Creed, "I believe in the Communion of Saints" comes in: we share God’s love with one another when we receive and give the Eucharist to each other; likewise when we share love with one another, we metaphorically are celebrating the Eucharist and we do this in memory of Him.
In this dynamic act of sharing the presence of the Trinity becomes clear to us: Love is in us and shared through us for Him, by the power of the Holy Spirit, in Jesus name, Amen.
It is more than just the line in a prayer, isn’t it?
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