Holy Communion: 1Cor 11:17-29
“this do in remembrance of Me.”
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!
In a recent reflection, I discussed the Miracle Food that God provided to His people in different seasons, until ultimately Jesus announced, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes on Me shall never thirst” and “Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life” (John 6:35, 54). Jesus is the true Miracle Food, the true Promised Land, the true Quencher of hunger and thirst, the true Life Giver. Holy Communion (Holy Eucharist) is avery important because, in this and in no other sacrament, we receive the very body and blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ.
At Communion, we are reminded us of Jesus’ sacrifice of himself, and that we are one body and one family; it strengthens our faith and draws us closer to our Redeemer. Holy Communion is an intimate encounter with Christ, in which we sacramentally receive Christ into our bodies, that we may be more completely assimilated into his. “The Eucharist builds the Church,” as Pope John Paul II said. The Eucharist also strengthens the individual because in it Jesus himself, the Word made flesh, assures us of forgiveness of our sins and gives us the strength to resist the devil.
Who is invited? Anyone who is repentant and is a believer in Jesus Christ is welcome to the Lord’s Table. In the Anglican Church, this is publicly expressed through Baptism and Confirmation, and one who has be thereby prepared must live a life bearing “fruit in keeping with repentance” (Matt 3:8). Such a person has “received him, who believed in his name” is is “born again” and is therefore a child of God, a member of the body of Christ and destined for eternal life.
Thanksgiving: Holy Communion should and must invoke thanksgiving because it is a celebration of what the Lord Jesus Christ achieved for us on the Cross. The reponse of believers should not only be through generously bringing their tithes and offerings to God but more so living in reverence of the Lord and serving Him with all their gifts and resources.
God bless you all.