An Exploration of Wesleyan Tradition and Theology 

This week, in my analysis of Wesley’s Ordinances of God, I aim to reflect on Wesley’s perspectives regarding the Last Supper. As we approach the celebration of Easter, it is essential to contemplate the significance of the Last Supper. When I gather with my family around the kitchen table, I am not only present in their conversations and laughter but also reminded of past family dinners. These reminiscences include my grandfather’s jokes and antics, the disagreements within my father’s family, and the warmth and joy at my great grandmother’s (mother’s) table. 

Jesus called us to do in remembrance of him when he broke the bread and lifted his cup to the apostles. Reenacting this act for me is a moment of remembrance – how God became human; how God demonstrated God’s weakness; how God loved unconditionally and kenotically.  

Wesleyan Practice of the Last Supper 

John Wesley viewed the Last Supper, or the Lord’s Supper, as a vital means of grace and a command from Christ to be observed regularly. He emphasized its importance for spiritual nourishment, forgiveness of sins, and communal worship, urging Christians to partake in it as often as possible to strengthen their faith and relationship with God. The partaking and re-enacting of the Last Supper is a communal event. Steve Harper offers theses point about the importance of the Last Supper in his Book, “Devotional Life in the Wesleyan Tradition”: 

• Holy Communion serves as a memorial meal – Not only are we celebrating Jesus, but we are engaging in the practices of faith that were important to Jesus. Jesus was Jewish. The Passover meal was the annual commemoration of the Jews celebrating and remembering God’s dramatic intervention in saving the children of Israel out of the bondage of Egyptian slavery. Here, we are celebrating God’s presence of healing and intervention not only through Jesus’ Jewish lineage but also foreshadowing God’s interventions in our lives through all the tough times.  

• The Lord’s Supper is an assurance of future glory – Jesus had announced he will be killed by the Roman regime. All his friends and apostles knew it. But he assured us that he will always be with us. Contextually, we cannot be sure what this meant for those early disciples, but for us today, we can be assured that the presence of the Christ is always here, embodied within us and inviting us into a deeper relationship with our selves and with God.  

• Christ is genuinely present each time we partake in the Lord’s Supper – When we take communion, we take communion with Christ Himself, who is mystically present with us. The presence of Christ at the table is what led John Wesley to practice what is known as “open” Communion, meaning anyone can come forward to receive. 

• We are instructed by Christ to participate in the Lord’s Supper – For Wesley,  insistence on frequent participation in the Lord’s Supper stemmed from his deep conviction that it was a direct command of Christ (Do this in remembrance of me), a crucial means through which God conveys grace, a vital practice for remembering Christ’s sacrifice, a powerful unifier of believers, and a faithful continuation of early church tradition. He believed that neglecting this sacrament would deprive believers of essential spiritual nourishment and hinder their growth in holiness. 

• Proper preparation begins with a repentant heart – Chapter 7 of The Rule of Saint Benedict is written to remind Benedictines on the importance and practice of humility. Humility in short is not thinking less of ourselves, it is thinking of ourselves less. When we announce our brokenness to our congregation and to God, we declare our weakness and vulnerability as humans in the face of our creator. It is here that we begin to experience the power of the Lord’s Supper as a converting sacrament. In this space, we are brough to faith. Some people best hear the gospel through words, such as through a sermon, while others hear the gospel through the tangible, physical touch of the bread and wine. Charles Wesley captured this powerfully when he wrote, “Come, Sinners, to the Gospel Feast, let every soul be Jesus’ guest. Ye need not one be left behind, for God hath bid all humankind 

• As a means of grace, it is prudent to receive the Lord’s Supper as frequently as possible. – In behavioral work, consistency is key. Most behaviors take 12-18 months to fully solidify into a new behavior. When we take communion frequently, we engage in the full experience of the liturgical reenactment of Jesus’ life and ministry. Engaging regularly becomes a vivid reminder of God’s enduring love and the promise of perpetual presence. In this meal, we celebrate God’s divine reflection and grace and God’s unity with all believers, in the Methodist tradition, our connexion. In doing so, we deepen our spiritual practice and foster a sesne of hope amidst life’s trials.  

• Receiving the Lord’s Supper is something we do in communion with God and others, never in isolation. – As we continue to hear about the rise of the “nones” and the loneliness epidemic, I feel that the answer is clear, we need more church in our lives. I don’t mean this in the fundamental idea that you need more Jesus in your life, though I do believe this to be true to a degree, however, I feel that as an institution, the church serves as a beacon for our community. Communion serves as a powerful symbol of our oneness with God and each other.  

The Spiritual Practice of Hope 

The spiritual practice of Hope is going to be a theme the next couple of weeks as we move into Easter. Sadly, the words I wrote in the post on hope in November 2023 are still true today, “The world is an ugly place right now. Wars, politics, climate change, it is all bad, or so the illusion goes.”  

Hope is a fundamental element of optimism, serving as a spiritual energy. In the observance of the Lord’s last supper and the promises he made to us, coupled with God’s unwavering presence each day, our hope is firmly placed in the Lord. The Lord’s Supper instills hope by reminding participants of their need for salvation and the promise of eternal life through Jesus’ sacrifice. It serves as a communal declaration of faith, looking forward to the future fulfillment of God’s promises and the hope of resurrection. 

Conclusion 

In partaking in the Lord’s Supper, we not only commemorate the sacrifice of Jesus but also embrace a ritual imbued with profound spiritual significance. It is a moment of unity, where individuals, despite our diverse backgrounds and experiences, come together to share in a common faith and purpose. This sacred meal serves as a tangible reminder of God’s grace and enduring presence, offering solace and strength in times of trial. It is through this act of communion that we renew our commitment to live in accordance with Christ’s teachings, fostering a spirit of love, humility, and hope. As we continue to navigate the complexities of our modern world, the Lord’s Supper remains a beacon of light, guiding us towards a deeper connection with the divine and with one another, and reinforcing our collective hope in the promise of salvation and eternal life.