The Real Presence of Christ

VI. The Sacrament of the Altar
As the head of the family should teach it in a simple way to his household.

What is the Sacrament of the Altar?

It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, under the bread and wine, for us Christians to eat and to drink, instituted by Christ Himself.

Where is this written?

The holy Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and St. Paul, write thus:

Our Lord Jesus Christ, the same night in which He was betrayed, took bread: and when He had given thanks, He brake it, and gave it to His disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is My body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.

After the same manner also He took the cup, when He had supped, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Take, drink ye all of it. This cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the remission of sins. This do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of Me.

What is the benefit of such eating and drinking?

That is shown us in these words: Given, and shed for you, for the remission of sins; namely, that in the Sacrament forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given us through these words. For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation.

How can bodily eating and drinking do such great things?

It is not the eating and drinking, indeed, that does them, but the words which stand here, namely: Given, and shed for you, for the remission of sins. Which words are, beside the bodily eating and drinking, as the chief thing in the Sacrament; and he that believes these words has what they say and express, namely, the forgiveness of sins.

Who, then, receives such Sacrament worthily?

Fasting and bodily preparation is, indeed, a fine outward training; but he is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words: Given, and shed for you, for the remission of sins.

But he that does not believe these words, or doubts, is unworthy and unfit; for the words For you require altogether believing hearts.

http://bookofconcord.org/smallcatechism.php

 

A few weeks ago my granddaughter asked me about the "script" I use at the tiny country church I serve at. I told her I don't use a "script" there as we don't have room on the altar for the altar book and we don't have a book with all the services for the altar. I told her that I know the words and I don't need one. She laughed saying that one of these days I'm going to forget them and then I'll be in trouble. Well, it happened, almost...

 

This past Sunday the church was packed with members and visitors. It was very warm and the doors to the church were wide open so that the very slight breeze could enter. As I lifted the cup, I noticed a woman sitting on the very steep concrete steps outside the church door. Not sure why she was sitting there, a wave of concern for her health flooded me. I totally forgot the words of institution as I watched her for a moment, long enough to see that she was okay and was getting up and coming in to receive the Lord's body and blood into herself. Halfway through the words of institution, I had to grasp to find the right words. They came back to me quickly. I learned them years ago as a teen-ager in confirmation class. Some things one never forgets. 

 

The body and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ is given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. As we receive this Sacrament, we believe that Jesus is present in with and under the elements of bread and wine. We truly receive his body and blood. In this Sacrament we receive the living presence of Jesus Christ into ourselves. He abides in us. Do not neglect to receive this precious life-giving gift. 

 

St. Paul reminds us in 1 Cor 11:29-30: "For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep."  This has a two-fold meaning. First, we ought to recognize that what we are receiving is the body of Christ. This is not just a memorial. He is truly present in the Sacrament of Holy Communion. We remember his death; the sacrifice of his body and blood for us. Yet, he is not dead. He lives. He is risen! He is ascended! He is present! Secondly, everyone at the table with you is a member of the body of Christ. It seems that some of the Corinthians had a habit of not thinking about their brothers and sisters in Christ and did not wait for them to partake of the meal. They went ahead, without them, concerned only for themselves. Do not neglect to recognize the sacrifice of our Lord or the living body of Christ in the Sacrament and do not neglect to recognize the living body of Christ that would kneel at the altar with you. 

 

May God imprint the promise heard in the words of institution upon your heart and mind that you might fully grasp what he has done for you. And... may the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you and keep you in His grace.

 

God's Peace - Pr. J

 

P.S. I pray that I have not edited this so much that it has become incomprehensible.

Acts 16:1-5 All Things For The Sake Of The Gospel

Acts 16:1-5 NIV
Paul has just convinced the other disciples that it is not necessary for believers to be circumcised; yet, here he is have Timothy circumcised in order that Timothy might accompany him on a mission trip. The reasoning? They are going to be reaching out to a community with a Jewish population. He feels it necessary in order for the people to hear. He sets aside freedom from the law for the sake of the gospel. In his first letter to the Corinthians (9:19-23), Paul wrote: "For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) so that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law) so that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings."

In order for others to be open to hear the word, there may be times when we, too, may need to set aside our own traditions and live according to the traditions of others. That is not to say that we should sin in order to be like others. Paul considered that circumcision was not necessary. It should not be required nor was it against the law to be circumcised. In this case it would be helpful for Timothy, whose mother was a Jew, to be circumcised in order for him be accepted in this community; in order for the people to be willing to listen to the message of Jesus that he carried. For the sake of the gospel when we enter the mission field, we do not impose our own traditions on those we are ministering to. It is most helpful to be, as Paul was, "all things to all people."

God's Peace - Pr. J

Matthew 26:36-46 - Pray One Hour

  Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
  Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
  Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matt 26:36-41 NIV)

We were having a prayer vigil. Individuals and families volunteered to come to the sanctuary to pray for one hour during the hours beginning right after the Maundy Thursday Service until the Good Friday Service. I had volunteered for three hours, from 3 a.m. until 6 a.m., as I lived right next door and I thought it would be easier for me than others who would have to drive to the church at such early hours. I began my hours praying, kneeling in front of the altar, next to the baptismal font. I was awakened by the couple, who was to follow me, to find them kneeling and praying at the altar. They had come in quietly and didn't want to disturb me. I had fallen asleep, on my knees, leaning against the baptismal font. Every Maundy Thursday, I recall this time. Apparently, it is not only those first disciples who cannot keep watch, stay awake, and pray for "one hour."

The spirit is willing, but so often the flesh is weak.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Jeremiah 25 - Cup Of God's Wrath

The nations are to drink from the cup of God's wrath. This is God's command to Jeremiah: make them drink of the cup. They will not be spared. They will not go unpunished.

Drink from this cup... Sound familiar to you?

How about on the night in which he was betrayed...

   "Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
   Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
   Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
   He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”" (Matt 26:36-42 NIV)

Jesus was willing to drink from this the cup of God's wrath for us. He was willing to suffer the penalty for our sins. He was willing to die so that we might be spared. His disciples were not strong enough to even be able to stay awake and watch and pray, let alone pay the penalty for their own sins. We are not. So out of mercy, God interceded on our behalf, sending His only begotten Son, Jesus the Christ, to take the charges and the guilt of our sin upon Himself.

As you read Jeremiah 25 today, give thanks to God that His mercy and grace has been extended to us through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Psalm 142 - Exhausted?

Have you ever been to the place where you are emotionally, physically, and spiritually exhausted?  It's a tough place to be. That's for sure...  The good thing about this place is that there is no place, no one to turn to, except to God. He truly becomes our refuge and strength in those times. When our spirits grow faint within us, there is one we can turn to who will watch over us and care for.

When we are weak, then we are strong, as we trust in the LORD to free us from the prisons that would bind us.

God's Peace - Pr. J.