Review: Holy Communion Wine

communion-wineWhile receiving Holy Communion at church last week my husband jokingly asked me if I was going to “review” the wine. I smiled and dismissed the thought but the idea never left my subconscious. Communion wine is usually a semi dry blush or dry red wine, but it can be sweet. While doing research for this blog I found a post about a Catholic church that had to switch from sweet red wine to a dry one because folks were drinking too much of it. I always look forward to going to church and receiving communion, and it’s not because I get a sip of wine. I  receive Communion to remember God’s sacrifice and pray to transform into a better person. Similarly the wine making process transforms grapes into wine. Both  involve action, change, refinement, and transformation. In the Presbyterian church both wine and grape juice are offered. I always take the wine because it inspires me.

Grapes start out as small buds, gathering nutrients from the soil, water and atmosphere. When ripe they are picked, processed, then put in a container where the yeast transforms the sugar to alcohol. During this process sediment (primarily dead yeast cells) fall to the bottom. The wine is racked to get rid of the sediment and after the fermenting process is over the wine is bottled.

Jesus’ first miracle of turning water into wine at a wedding (John 2:1-11)  shows how he intercedes with miracles to solve and transition us from problems. Wine symbolizes the transition of sugar into pure alcohol, and in the fermentation process the sediment waste is removed.   Holy Communion is a symbol of what Jesus Christ accomplished for us on to the cross. It gives us the opportunity to spiritually connect with our higher power and transition to our fullest life purpose.

Religion and wine facts

Not all religions embrace the use of wine. Even within Christianity there are opposite views on drinking alcohol. I’ve outlined different faiths below and their stance on alcohol.

Christianity:

  • Catholics – wine must be from the fruit of the grapevine (cf. Luke 22:18), natural, and unadulterated, without extraneous substances, after this requirement any wine is acceptable.  The Catholic Church believes the wine becomes the blood of Jesus Christ through transubstantiation.
  • The United Methodist Church – doesn’t use wine when celebrating Holy Communion, they use grape juice because of their opposition to alcohol.
  • Protestant denominations – view wine as a symbol of the blood of Christ.
  • Christians including Pentecostals and Methodists – believe in abstinence from alcohol and use grape juice in Holy Communion.

Judaism – alcoholic consumption is permitted by the Jewish faith, but excessive consumption and drunkenness, is discouraged. Consuming alcohol for religious duty regularly practiced.

Mormonism – prohibit the consumption of alcohol.

Hinduism – view wine as medicine. Ayurveda, the oldest, documented system of medicine does not recommend wine for everyone. Wine is a potent healer for specific health conditions.

Jainism – is strictly against alcohol.

Buddhists – avoid consuming alcohol because it violates the basic Buddhist code of ethics.

Islam – believes it weakens the conscience of the believer. In the Qur’an, Muhammad proposed to avoid alcohol.

Drinking wine is a personal choice, and there are many views on its consumption.  Whether you drink wine or not you can still appreciate the transformation process of grape to wine, and be inspired by it.

Cheers – Carrie

 

 

 

 

 

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