The Lord's Supper

Ella W. Hoag

In the commemoration by the Christian churches of what has been denominated as "the Lord's supper," there has been among the more spiritually minded a deep desire thereby to honor the Christ and to bring themselves into a fuller unity with the teachings and acts of Christ Jesus. The outcome of such practice has not always brought the inspiration longed for, and men have gone away from what they have called "the Lord's table" still hungry for deeper spirituality and for the understanding of how to walk more closely in the Master's footsteps.

While the usual forms of worship in the Christian churches undoubtedly have had back of their institution the ever desirable purpose to reach out Spiritward, so much of materiality has sometimes entered into their observance that men have often seemed to lose the spirit in the letter—the substance in the shadow, the real comeliness in the outward form. The devout prayers and purposes of Christians ever since Jesus' life on earth have, however, been answered in the revelation of Christian Science, which brings to light the meaning of every symbol, the spiritual interpretation of all things, so that all may understand and put into practice the letter of Christ's Christianity until they have gained its complete spirit.

In "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 170) Mrs. Eddy tells us that "the eating of bread and drinking of wine at the Lord's supper, merely symbolize the spiritual refreshment of God's children having rightly read His Word, whose entrance into their understanding is healthful life. This is the reality behind the symbol." And in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 35), in referring to Jesus' breakfast with the disciples on the morning after his resurrection, she writes, "This spiritual meeting with our Lord in the dawn of a new light is the morning meal which Christian Scientists commemorate."

Although Christian Scientists therefore recognize that the true sacrament is the partaking of the Word of God in such abundant measure through having rightfully discerned its meaning that "healthful life" shall result, nevertheless there is still the great necessity of watchfulness lest they, as Paul says, eat and drink unworthily.

In his first epistle to the Corinthians Paul writes, "Ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils." Here the apostle presents the true and false in very definite phrase, and all will do well who watch that in seeking Truth they desire and partake only of that priceless spiritual food which belongs to the Science God has given to the world. To eat and drink of any adulteration of this Science is to imbibe that which must inevitably involve confusion; yes, which will eventually bring about the destruction of the desire for true spirituality which Christian Science inculcates.

Christian Scientists know that they are continually called upon to choose between that spiritual food which nourishes and sustains, which satisfies and blesses,—between that Word of God which is truth and which is always revealing the spiritual sense of things,—and the mundane, material concepts, which ever lead them into the mistaken bypaths of human belief, where only distress and disaster finally await them.

While branch Churches of Christ, Scientist, observe twice a year that spiritual feast which commemorates our Lord's morning meal with his disciples, they know that to approach the Lord's table properly they must indeed have on the garment of purified, unselfed thinking. No sinful, personal thoughts can ever discern the Word of God with sufficient clearness to bring that "healthful life" which must ever be the result of having partaken properly of the bread of Life. Worldliness, materiality, personal sense, would close the door to all the inspiration the Father-Mind is waiting to bestow on those who desire spirituality and it alone.

These two occasions each year furnish a deep and glorious opportunity to eat and drink refreshingly at our Lord's table in such a way that not only every member of the Christian Science church may be blessed, but the still unbelieving world may know that Christian Scientists do commune with God and His Christ. We as Christian Scientists should also realize that this bread of Life is spread for us at all times and under all circumstances; that every time we approach the Word of Truth we are drawing near to a feast prepared for us at the table of our Lord. Then let us always eat worthily because of our earnest prayer to God, "Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of the law."

Ella W. Hoag

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