UNDERSTANDING THE LITURGY by John J. O'Brien, C. P.

Coming to the Lord's Table - #4

The next two parts of the Communion rite involve the assembly in ritual action. The first ritual expression is the sign of peace. The second ritual is the breaking of the bread and the preparation of the cups.

The Kiss of Peace

The oldest writings of the New Testament and the earliest Eucharistic liturgies mentioned a ritual kiss. The idea was that the kiss sealed the prayer of the assembly. "In the Roman rite, the sign of peace finds its place after the Lord's Prayer whose theme of mutual forgiveness it echoes. The peace of God is ours in the saving mystery of Christ and so it is a sign of the Lord's peace that we exchange. The exchange of peace prior to receiving communion acknowledges that the Christ we receive in the sacrament is already present in our neighbor. The sign of peace is not an expression of mere human solidarity or good will; it is rather an opening of ourselves to a challenge and a gift from beyond ourselves. Like the 'Amen' at communion, the sign of peace is a profession of faith that we are members, one with another, in the body of Christ (Service at the Table of the Lord, p. 5-6).

The sign of peace is included in every Eucharist because it binds together the body of Christ, the church gathered in this assembly. The ritual action is not hierarchical. It is not something that the priest presider distributes to the rest of the baptized. Rather, the ritual exchange of peace is an action that all the members of the assembly give and receive. Ordinarily it is exchanged with people nearby. Therefore, it does not take long and does not require musical accompaniment.

The Breaking of the Bread

Sharing at the Lord's Table was central to Jesus' life and ministry. He fed the multitudes, he ate with sinners, he shared his last supper with his friends, and he returned as Risen Lord to share in the breaking of the bread. In fact, this term, the breaking of the bread, became a technical term for the celebration of the Eucharist in the house churches of the early Christian movement.

Parishes are becoming more accustomed to baking the bread that is used at each Eucharist liturgy. There are three goals here. The first is that people who come to the table receive the bread and the cup that are consecrated at that Eucharist. The second is that our symbols need to be as ample and authentic as possible. The third is that there be one loaf of bread that is broken, shared, and ministered so that the assembly might become one body in table partnership and in the bread of eternal life which is Christ.

During the breaking of the bread and the pouring of the wine, a litany is sung, "Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world...." This sung litany accompanies the action of the breaking and pouring. It should continue until all the bread is broken and all the cups have been poured and prepared for the assembly's reception of the Eucharist. We share in the Lord's Supper by eating the bread and drinking the cup of blessing.