Approaching the Awesome Eucharist, part 3

In part 1 (click here to read it) I encouraged active preparation to receive Christ in the Eucharist.

However, it’s very easy to misunderstand the rules for communion preparation. Some ways people have misunderstood the rules include:

• A question of power
• A question of legalism
• A question of judgment

In part 2, (click here to read it) I explained how the communion preparation is not a powerplay, but a means of preparing to be healed by the presence of Christ.

I also explained how communion preparation was not legalistic, but rather a formative way of transforming us into Christ.

Now, I offer you the conclusion to our series!

THE RULES DO NOT GIVE ANYONE THE POWER OF JUDGMENT OVER YOU!

Finally, the last question asked if the rules provided a means of judging one another.

By no means!

Scripture records Jesus as saying,

“If any one hears my sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.” (John 12:47 RSV)

Yet, in the same sermon, Jesus says,

“And I know that [God’s] commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has bidden me.” (John 12:50 RSV)

Perhaps an easy way to understand the pre-communion prayers is not as a rule of judgment, but as guidance for proper decorum.

Let me give you an example.

Let’s say your favorite president – or presidential candidate – is in the White House…whoever that may be.

And let’s say you got invited to dinner at the White House!

This would be a big deal! So big, in fact, that you’d want to properly prepare!

Here a few things you might do:

• Buy new clothes that are suitable for the occasion
• Double check travel times so you can arrive on-time, if not early.
• Bring an appropriate gift (e.g., as one would bring wine to a dinner party)
• Rehearse what you’re going to say to the president!

If you were going to dinner at the White House, you wouldn’t dream of wearing old, dirty clothes, nor would you think of arriving late, nor would you speak casually to the president.

If we would give the President of the United States such honor, how much more honor shall we give the Creator of All the World, who is really present here in our midst?!?!

Because standing in the presence of Christ, our Savior, can be so intimating – or at least it should be! – the Church helps us learn proper decorum so that we can truly approach in fear yet with faith.

They aren’t rules that allow us to judge others, but an insight into entering the Kingdom of God.

IN CONCLUSION

I’ve now shown that the pre-communion preparation given to us by the Church is not a means of control and power, nor is it legalism by favoring works over faith, nor is it a checklist by which we can judge others.

Instead, it’s the means by which we prepare ourselves to be healed. It’s the way by which we are conditioned and molded into an athlete for Christ. It’s instructions for entering the Kingdom of Heaven!

The pre-communion preparation does not make us perfect! Nor can we be perfect when we approach the chalice.

It’s about maintaining our integrity as Orthodox Christians. It’s maintaining the integrity of the Body and Blood of Christ. It’s maintaining the integrity of our beliefs.

This gives us character since the pre-communion preparation becomes our confession and our repentance! Thus we approach confessing Christ as our savior, and in repentance for our sins.

In short, we approach with the fear of God, and with faith!

I want to leave you with these questions:

1. What happens to your spirituality when you neglect proper preparation?
2. What happens to your spirituality when you rise to meet the challenge put before you?
3. What happens to the community’s spirituality when you neglect proper preparation?
4. What happens to the community’s spirituality when you strive with your brother and sisters to reach out and touch Christ?

P.S. I INVITE ALL OF YOU TO APPROACH CHRIST OUR LORD!

I now invite you to St. Elias, this Sunday (9:30, 2001 Asbury Rd, Dubuque, click here), to approach Christ in faith! (Or find your nearest Orthodox Church by clicking here.)