The frequency of Holy Communion has come up more than once within discussions among layity that I've witnessed or been a part of. Some people are open to having it every week, while others think that once a month or (gasp!) even once a quarter would suffice. I have some thoughts and questions regarding this "issue":
*In Holy Communion we receive God's forgiveness of sins. Why wouldn't you want to receive God's gift of forgiveness as often as you can?
*In Holy Communion we are met by Christ. Why wouldn't you want to be in Christ's presence as often as you can?
*Some people say that Holy Communion gets cheapened if it is done "too much." I would argue that Holy Communion isn't about us, or how we feel, or what we want from it. It's finally about what God does in the sacrament for us. If we say we have to be "of a certain mind" to receive, then we make it about ourselves and our righteousness - Holy Communion becomes a work rather than a gift given to us by God.
*To go further, if we deny God's offering of Holy Communion, we deny God, his grace and his forgiveness.
*People who feel they're just going through the motions probably need Communion more than the people who feel they're "of the right mind." That is, the unrighteous need it more than the righteous.
*Why do we make it a point for young people to "be ready" for Holy Communion? What does that mean, anyway? We have to be ready to accept forgiveness? If so, doesn't this make it about us again? How come we don't have to "be ready" for Holy Baptism? Aren't both sacraments which function the same way for essentially the same purposes? This is perhaps oversimplification, but both are gifts from God to forgive sins, right?
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2 comments:
I like it. I agree in every aspect. Perhaps you should make this your next sermon topic and really "wow" the crowd. Although I like our house here, so maybe don't get us run out quite so soon :) Love you!
We connect salvation to baptism in a way that we don't connect it to communion. Why is that?
Then also ask why Paul encouraged us to examine ourselves before communion. What did he mean? Who can do that? I agree there's nothing magical about fifth grade, but I do think people who take communion ought to know what they're doing. There's nothing magical about the sacrament either, so that it "works" no matter who does it.
Read up on what Paul says, what Jesus said, what Luther says, and maybe even Braaten and Jensen.
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