The scriptures say in 1 Corinthians 10 that those who partake of the offering become part of the offering. That’s the reality behind the image of eating. As the sage hath said, you are what you eat. If we all eat the same thing, then we have an ontological unity, a commonality of being. This meal changes you, it binds you to your fellow Christian as you both are bound to Jesus.

The danger which this teaching guards us against is pride. There is a tendency to think oneself superior to one’s neighbor because of the insight you have about our cultural moment or the urbane circle of friends you interact with online or the books you read or the shows you watch or the sports you play or literally anything. We can take anything as a basis for feelings of superiority.

But the truth is that there are only two groups: those bound to Christ’s body and washed with his blood, and those who are dead in their sins. This bread and wine are the tokens of the first group. And the wisest and mightiest among us comes to this table on the same grounds as the two-year-old who spends thirty seconds with the basket trying to find the biggest piece of bread. We all come by faith to be fed again by the hand of Christ.

That’s not to say that there isn’t hierarchy in the Kingdom of Heaven, but greatness in that kingdom begins with knowing in your bones that your standing before God is entirely on the merits of Christ the Son. So do not despise your neighbor. Bear with his weakness as God bears with yours. Forgive her sins against you as God forgives you. And do so with laughter in your heart at the absurdity of your own smallness.