Food For Thought:  Ordained Ministry and the Distribution of the Eucharist

by Archbishop Robert M. Bowman

    We have recently attended several churches of different denominations.  At one (Advent Lutheran Church of Suntree, Florida), the pastor (Rev. Gerry Clark) and his Eucharistic ministers distribute Communion to all.  Then at the end, after everyone else has received, Pastor Clark kneels at the altar rail and one of the Eucharistic ministers gives him Communion.  He doesn't make an issue about it, he just does it.  I thought, "How powerful, and how fitting!"  We clergy are after all, ministers, servants at the Table of the Lord.  Do servants eat first and then feed the guests?  Hardly.  So why should the clergy receive Communion first?  I know it has its roots in history, back to the time when the laity were excluded from Communion entirely, only being allowed to receive once a year.  But fortunately, we have long left those days behind.  If we delve back further in the Church's history, to the home Masses of the early Church, I'm sure we will find that the Presider (initially it was the woman of the house) would distribute the bread and the wine to her guests before partaking herself.  Why should we not go back to this practice.   It will help us clerics to remember that we are the servants, not the masters.   Think about it.  Maybe try it.  Let me know what you (and your people) think about the change.  Since we are not constrained by antiquated rubrics, why should we not try things that may help make the Mass more meaningful to our flocks ... and to ourselves.

Father Bob

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