Legacy Sermon

1 Corinthians 11:23-26 – Communion

Today we will participate in a practice of legacy. (Indicate the table)

It’s Jesus’ last night with his friends. Passover celebration.

When we read and compare the 4 versions of this story from the 4 gospels, (especially in John’s gospel, even though Jesus doesn’t establish communion there) Jesus appears to know what is coming and is planning for when it occurs.

He teaches (John). He models servanthood (John). He gives the disciples a practice to engage in. (Matthew, Mark, Luke). He predicts his betrayal or handing over. (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) Very intentional. Not leaving anything to chance. “Here’s what’s coming. Do this in remembrance of me.”

There is a pattern here for us to emulate. And we have, for the last almost 2000 years. And we will today. The sacrament of communion, the Eucharist. “Do this in remembrance of me.”

There is another pattern here for us to emulate, though. That of preparing for what we believe is coming.

Hold that thought, over here.


This morning we heard read 1 Corinthians 11:23-26.

The Apostle Paul’s intro to his instructions about the Lord’s Supper; communion again.

“For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”  In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”  For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. (NRSV)

Again, there is a pattern here for us to emulate.

“For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you.”

The pattern of receiving and passing along.

Eric Law, in his book Holy Currencies, takes up this imagery and talks about keeping resources flowing, like water. A healthy, beautiful, clear, stream is one that flows. As soon as the water ceases to flow, it becomes stagnant and sick. Similarly with our resources and currencies. We need to keep them flowing.

I receive. I pass along.

Now bring back that earlier thought you put aside. Remember?

The pattern of preparing for what we believe is coming; what Jesus was doing for his disciples on that last night he was with them. Establishing a legacy.

Each of us needs to consider what will be our legacy. One day, hopefully after a long and fulfilling lifetime, but you never know, each of us will die and leave this earth. And interestingly, many of the things we believe will happen to us after our death we believe because of what Jesus taught on his last night, in that upper room, around the table, according to John’s gospel. “In my Father’s house are many mansions.” “I go to prepare a place for you.” “Where I am, there you may be also.”

And so we have faith and trust in God that, as our new creed tells us, “In life, in death, in life beyond death, God is with us. We are not alone” and so we say, “Thanks be to God.”

Our Christian faith gives us hope and brings us peace about our own death and future life.

But we’re not there yet. And that’s good.

Because in the meantime, we have the opportunity to prepare for that day. We have time to consider what will be our legacy; to pass along what we have received and keep our resources flowing, even after we are gone.

If you would like further information about planning your legacy and making a gift to your church, please contact the church office or your local Stewardship & Gifts Officer. They would be happy to meet with you and offer possibilities and resources to help in your decision making.

(You can find a list of Stewardship & Gifts Officers here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0ONYpGPGJTfOTZsMjVpOHZhXzg/view accessed through the stewardshiptoolkit.ca web-site.)

Now to grease those gears and get you thinking, as we prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacrament of communion with Christ and with each other, let me leave you with a couple of questions to ponder.

1. How does your Christian faith give you hope and peace about the end of your life on earth?

2. What legacy will you be passing along, in remembrance of Jesus?



AMEN.