Confidence before You—Many of us lack confidence. Who The Article Images Copyright © 2020 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. Jesus was God’s permanent answer to the problem: He took upon Himself all sin - past, present, and future - and died to pay the full penalty. We worship in a corporate context so that we can receive Holy Communion, so that we can touch the Divine God. himself. man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. contributes the Prayer Team Ministry, a daily reflection, which began in February 2015. By receiving often, we are strengthened to live our Christianity in a secular world which often challenges and ridicules what we believe. Holy Communion, in concert with our personal repentance (which includes the sacrament of confession), helps to wipe out our sins on a continual basis so that we can work toward a oneness with the Lord. Apostle part in it, to remember His great sacrifice on the cross. by the Lord Jesus Christ, for every true believer of the body of Christ may regularly take Because in most churches, this prayer is inaudible, I want to share with you not only its words, but their rich meaning. ©2020 Orthodox Christian Network. The New Covenant replaced the Old Covenant when Christ, the Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7), was sacrificed (Hebrews 8:8-13). asleep. Jesus’ blood cleanses us of sin. How Do Protestants and Catholics Differ on Communion? We are connected not only with the Lord who saved us but also with past and present believers. Stavros N. Akrotirianakis is the Proistamenos of St. John Greek Orthodox Church in Tampa, FL. So, we ask the Lord to deem us worthy to receive, and for this act to be one that instills confidence in us and does not lead to condemnation. Seriousness of the Holy Communion: When ever we When we share fellowship with the Holy Spirit, we receive His grace and are both healed and strengthened of the things that are infirm and lacking in us. But this was just a temporary solution, as the next offense required another sacrifice. (The presence of Jesus Christ is Spiritual. The Lord’s Supper is a good time to stop and recall what Jesus has given us. The Lord’s Supper/Christian Communion is a remembrance of what Christ did for us and a celebration of what we receive as a result of His sacrifice. Forgiveness of sins—The Greek word used here is “afesin” which means “remission” or “wiping out” of our sins. Receiving often can only be a confidence-builder. Holy Communion, among other positive things, helps us to have confidence in both spiritual challenges. Amen. Baptism (who got their Salvation as in Mark 16:16 Whoever believes and is baptized against the body and blood of the Lord. I know that I am never worthy to receive them, but allow me through Your Grace to be able to receive them often. Believers today observe the Lord’s Supper as a symbol of cleansing, consecration, and communion. It desires to be filled with God. may partake in this Holy Communion? to wear Christ as in Gal We receive these through His divine mercy. All rights reserved. As we partake, we joyfully proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes again. will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. Through Your Holy Gifts, may I find a heightened sense of spiritual awareness and may they help lead to a wiping away of my sins. Why Should We Take 3:27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.) Fr. To receive without preparation, to receive in anger, to receive when engaged in an immoral lifestyle, these things lead to condemnation. Examine Yourself Before Taking Communion? The bread and the cup provide an opportunity to remember what the Father expects of His children and to renew one’s commitment to obey. The Divine Liturgy points us to Holy Communion as not only the climax of the service but the very reason for worshiping. What Was the Symbolism of the Last Supper? Cor.11:24 & 25. After the Holy Gifts have been consecrated, the priest kneels before the Holy Altar table and continues the prayer of consecration with a list of six reasons to receive Holy Communion. Jesus’ last meal with His disciples took place during the celebration of Passover.Giving them bread, He said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Next, offering wine from a shared cup, He told them, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:26-28). Only through His mercies. We either wonder if the promises of Christ are just as He said them, or we worry if we will be worthy of the promised Kingdom. Having prayed for the Holy Spirit to come down upon us, as He comes down on the  Gifts we presented, we now pray that He not only come down on us, but that He comes into each of us. Prayer, fasting, moral living, reconciliation, worship, all these things that are pre-requisites in order to receive Communion, help us live in Christ in this life as we prepare to live with Him in the next. For anyone Holy Communion is the centerpiece of the Orthodox Christian church. Among members of God’s family, we find comfort and support, just as the disciples and the early church did. Benefits of taking Holy Communion. Meaning: Paul says "you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes " (I Cor.11:26). So we pray that the promise of Christ will be fulfilled in our lives, and in the lives of those we are worshiping with. HOME | BIBLE STUDY | SERMONS | WORD OF GOD | SCRIPTURAL HELP | SEASONAL TOPICS | LINKS | DEVOTIONAL. Prepare today for the next time you will receive Communion. Purpose of the Holy Communion is to: The We lack confidence in ourselves. Such is the case with today’s reflection. Its Meaning and Significance. So that they may be to those who partake of them for vigilance of soul—Holy Communion is like food for the soul. The soul is the God-like part of each of us. Fr. May the receiving of Holy Communion give me confidence, lead me away from judgment and condemnation and lead me to You. You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on your hearts, to be known and read by all men; and you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. Fulfillment of the kingdom of heaven—In order for there to be a fulfillment of something, there has to be a beginning or a promise that leads to eventual fulfillment. | Powered by: Worship LIVE Streaming Services Around the World, 3rd e-Synaxis from Holy Mount Athos with Elder Ephraim and ASCOR- IASI, Romania, The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (2), The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (1), Make This a Season of Thanksgiving and Joy, Join the Conversation: For the Life of the World, Psalm 150—The Ultimate Goal: Let Every Breath Praise the Lord, Holiness, an Other Proposal for Life and Witness in the World, The Only List Where I Hope for My Name to Appear. Christianity.com is a member of the Salem Web Network of sites including: Copyright © 2020, Christianity.com. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen Not in judgment or condemnation—And as if to reassure us that it is okay to receive, these words are added to the prayer. 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