👉🏾👉🏾👉🏾 On the Sacred Mystery of the Holy #Eucharist
1. The Essence of the Sacrament
The Holy Eucharist stands as the most sublime of Mysteries, instituted by our Saviour, Jesus Christ. In this sacred act, He bequeathed to His followers not mere bread and wine but His very body and blood, proclaiming, "Take, eat, this is my body...Drink, this is my blood."
Through fervent prayer and the divine word, the offerings of bread and wine, presented by the priest, are transmuted. They are no longer the simple sustenance of mankind, but the very body and blood of our Lord. This transformation, deep and ineffable, grants the faithful not only spiritual nourishment but the promise of salvation and eternal life.
Although to the earthly senses it remains as bread and wine, through divine consecration, it is elevated to the true body of Christ, that very body offered upon the Cross, and the authentic blood of Christ, shed for the redemption of humanity. Such a profound change is termed a mystery, for it transcends human comprehension.
2. The Necessity of Partaking
It was Christ Himself, our Great High Priest, who offered this sacrificial meal to His Father. Hence, it is imperative for all who profess Christ to partake in His flesh and drink of His blood. Apart from this sacred unity, spiritual life wanes. Echoing the Lord's teachings, "I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh" (John 6:51). Furthermore, "Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day" (John 6:54).
3. The Universal Call
Every soul that has embraced Christ, irrespective of age or gender, is called to this divine feast. By these means, believers are not only united with Christ but also amongst themselves. Through partaking of His body and blood, we are indelibly marked as His own.
4. Frequency of Communion
The Eucharistic Mystery, by its very nature, demands frequent reverence. Each believer is called to receive it regularly – weekly ideally, monthly without fail, and at a bare minimum, thrice a year. As the priest offers the Eucharist, he testifies of its sanctity and perfection, and the congregant's echoing "Amen" affirms this divine truth.
It is of utmost importance that when a believer approaches the chalice, they consume both the body and the blood, for Christ did not separate them in His teachings but offered them as one (John 6:56).
5. The Order of Reception
In the liturgical dance of the Eucharist, there exists a divine order: first the Bishops, then the Priests, followed by the Deacons, and lastly the Laity. Among the laity, tradition holds that men partake before women. This is not a declaration of value but a testament to ancient eclesiastical discipline.
6. The Preparation for the Feast
The Holy Eucharist demands a soul prepared and pure. Those who approach the sacred chalice must be clad in the robes of fasting. In the tradition of the Ethiopian Church, this often signifies fasting before the Holy Mass. If partaking in a morning service, one should fast from the previous evening. Moreover, the believer should approach with a contrite heart, having repented and confessed their sins, thus standing clean before the Lord.
In Closing
Let us, therefore, approach this great Mystery with reverence and awe, recognizing the immense gift Christ has bestowed upon us. For in the Holy Eucharist, we are united with Him, partaking in His divine nature, and journeying on the path to eternal salvation.
May the name of the Holy God be praised forever and ever in every tongue that He has created, today and always.
May the blessings of God's mother, the virgin, and the cross be upon us.
Amen.
©John's Repentance
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