The Eucharist is one of God’s best-kept secrets. As a means of concrete grace, it can deliver healing and connection, because Jesus shows up there in a way he doesn’t anywhere else.
A forgotten means of attachment
For me and many, Communion used to be a guilt-fest—a heavy, dark reminder of all I’d done to put Jesus on the Cross. Don’t get me wrong, I’m guilty as hell. But what got discarded was the idea that the Eucharist could be a bonding experience. Even a healing experience. If what we’re all looking for is secure attachment—what the bible calls, “hesed” love—then the Lord’s Table is the perfect vehicle for it.
food bonding
Did you know that we bond to the person who feeds us? 1. Food and attachment are linked in the brain. What if the Eucharist meal is an opportunity to receive attachment love; to strengthen our felt-sense of security in God? The “hesed” (loyal commitment) of God is nowhere more present than at the Table.
“In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” —Luke 22:20
“New Covenant” means:
New Belonging.
New Security.
New Bonding.
Remembering vs. Re-membering Jesus
“Every time you eat this bread and every time you drink this cup, you reenact in your words and actions the death of the Master.”
Every breaking of bread is an incarnation. A reenactment. An Emmaus Road. Jesus’ body is re-membered, re-created, re-produced each time we “eat his flesh and drink his blood.” It is an ingesting of Jesus that allows us to irrefutably bond with him; a mutual indwelling.
Where metaphor fails
We must be careful not to be too metaphorical about this. Incarnation isn’t metaphor; it’s embodied power and personhood. This efficacy occurs on at least three levels:
Our bodies are rejoined to the physical body of Jesus on the Cross, and out of the Tomb. Mind, spirit, and emotion are joined there as well. The Eucharist is a shared experience with Jesus.
Attachment bonds are reformed and solidified because we take up our union with him afresh.
Out of this shared union with Jesus comes healing: He ingests and overtakes our wounds, pain and separation.
Invitation to “Zoomcharist?”
My mentor and I have been using the Eucharist weekly, for over three years. We meet via Zoom and bring to Jesus my cancer, my dread, my losses, my family…everything that needs hope. It has been a profound attachment experience for me; increasing my felt sense of security and connection. The Eucharist is one of the most practical things I’ve done for healing.
Invitation: If you’re interested in using the Eucharist for healing—one-on-one with me—send me a note. To date, I’ve used this 173 times in my own journey. Discover what role the Eucharist can play in your healing.
P.S. I’m tempted to call these Eucharist Zoom calls, “Zoomcharists.” We’ll see. ;)
Source:
1. Dr. Jim Wilder, neurobiologist and theologian