LIVING WATERS
For the proclamation of the Gospel and the edification of the Body of Christ
Communion
Dietrich Bonhoeffer begins his book "Life in Communion" by saying: "It is not obvious that the Christian lives among Christians". That is, we should not take it for granted that the Christian enjoys communion with other Christians. The sick Christian, the imprisoned Christian, the missionary in distant lands, does not enjoy that which is so obvious to most Christians. And because it is so obvious, he does not value it.
Christian communion is a gift of God, and it is the instance in which the life of Christ is supplied to us, and not only the life, but his consolation, his encouragement, his regulation and his help. Bonhoeffer goes so far as to say that the Christ in the word of another is greater than the Christ of my heart. It is surprising, and perhaps for some even heretical, but it is this that implies that when there are two or three, it is Christ himself who is in the middle. In the communion of Christians there are strong bonds of power, of spiritual authority, of security and encouragement.
It is in Christian communion that we enjoy the reality of being the body of Christ, with its many members expressing part of the unfathomable richness of Christ, the ineffable riches of his grace. Christ in every Christian has a different flavor - so to speak. In each Christian, Christ expresses a unique and unrepeatable part of his nature and character; therefore, if we lose the brother, we lose that Christ who will express himself only through him. Whoever opens himself to communion, opens himself to the richness of Christ; whoever refuses communion, closes the door that brings him the breeze and nourishment of heaven.
How hard it is for us to accept that we, in particular, do not have, nor can we have, all of Christ. How hard it is for us to accept that, beyond me, there is a wider, richer Christ, without my poverty and limitations. A balanced and wise Christ, who always has a new perspective and approach to see my problem, who always surprises me with a new accent, with a new solution.
When we are together, God sheds beams of light that illuminate us, moving us to tears. In the word of the other, even of the simplest Christian, torrents of life and revelation pour forth that have never before passed through my mind or risen to my heart. That is why the psalmist said: "For there the Lord sends blessing and everlasting life" (Ps. 133:3). It is when brethren dwell together in harmony that God pours Himself out; it is in being together that the delights of God are enjoyed.
The devil's work from the beginning has been to separate; God's work is to unite. Two paths open before us, as antagonistic as black from white, death from life: to unite in frank, sincere communion, in spiritual communion, where Christ is the center and the circumference, where he is the magnet that draws us, and the bond that surrounds us. The spiritual communion of Christians is Christ himself.