About the #Holy #Eucharist
(Part 7)
Additional Explanation About the Holy Communion
1. "He who has the intention of fornication, let him not approach the sacrament; he that is unclean, let him not come near..." These are words found in the proclamation of the great prayer mass, whereby the main priest proclaims upon washing his hands with water before entering the fruit-Mass. Due to the misinterpretation of this message in the proclamation, many believers do not dare to approach the Holy Communion, and even those who came prepared refrain from receiving it. The main reason for this is either their incorrect interpretation of the declaration or not having received the correct teaching of the Church.
The majority assume that they are told not to approach the Holy Communion unless they are clean and free from the thought of adultery. They question how it is possible for a person to be clean to this extent and say that it may only happen when they are old. Therefore, many young people run away from the Holy Communion. But what we are ordered to do is to run away from adultery, not from the Holy Communion. "Flee fornication" 1 Cor 6:18. The purpose of this decree is to warn a person not to approach the sacrament without understanding and receiving enough teaching about the Holy Communion, without refraining from sin, and without repenting. So, impure means one who has not confessed their sins before the priest, who has not learned about the Holy Communion, and who has not completed the penance given. In general, it is inappropriate to accept without repentance.
2. There are people who say that an unmarried person should not receive Holy Communion. Their reason is that an unmarried person may fall into adultery and defile their body because it is not determined by law. Their point of view may be logical, but their solution is wrong. Basically, there is no right or law that guarantees the commission of sin simply because you are young. In fact, the word is "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth" (Ecclesiastes 12:1). Therefore, it is better to protect, teach, advise, and discipline them so that they do not commit adultery in the first place, rather than keeping them away from the Holy Communion. The word of God says: "All the sins committed by a person who flees from fornication are outside the body. He who commits adultery sins against his own body." Or don't you know that your body, which you received from God, is the temple of the Holy Spirit who dwells in you?" (1Cor 5:18-20). Basically, whether a person is married or not, they should live a life free from sin. If it is adultery, then they should be taught and counseled to be ready to accept it while maintaining their purity.
Blindly concluding that an unmarried person does not deserve to receive Holy Communion is not a solution except to confuse the believer and create a wrong view. Nor is it the teaching of the Church. What the church teaches is that every Christian should receive the body and blood of Christ every week.
If we understand the Holy Communion well, it should be celebrated every Sunday and on major holidays if possible. At the very least, it is appropriate to receive the flesh and blood every forty days. Especially, it is appropriate to receive on the birthday of Jesus, baptisms, Thursday prayers, Easter, Mount Tabor, and other holy and Anglican holidays.
When we approach the Holy Communion and the house of God
(Conttinues)