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Sorin Sabou


Letter to the Romans, Nicomachean Ethics, and more

The identity of the Church - Breaking of Bread

Sharing a meal with somebody is a sign of communion and friendship. The Lord's Supper in Early Church was part of a meal. Communion and friendship was the social context for the breaking of bread. This somehow technical way of portraying the Lord Supper underlies the drama of salvation.
The death of Jesus is proclaimed in a very graphic way by the breaking of bread. The richness of symbolism fascinates everybody. The most basic element in sustaining the life of the human body, bread, is used to describe the body of Jesus at the moment of death. The fact that we break the bread shows that Christ's death is the result of our condition, and that after the breaking of bread we eat it, shows that we establish and nourish our lives on his redeeming death. This action in the life of the Church is part of the identity core of the Church. This understanding of ourselves as acting together in this symbolic action shows who we are. Even if it is not mentioned as such in Acts 2:42, the other part of this action is the drinking of the cup. The New Covenant, and forgiveness of sins are conveyed by what this action symbolizes. The Lord's Supper is the sign of the New Covenant. The relationship with God is established by the blood shed on the cross. This redeeming death has the power to break the slavery of sin and to bring forgiveness for everyone who believes, repents, and is baptized in the Church.
To have this action as a part of what the Church does when its people come together shows the fundamental place of Jesus' death in the life of the Church.
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