Homily 23 #

On Saturday of the second week of Lent, a teaching of St. John Chrysostom on Holy Communion.

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people. He could not bear to see mankind enslaved to sin, but in His mercy, He sent His Son to earth. The Son, being God beyond all comprehension, took flesh from the Holy God-bearer, suffered crucifixion, and tasted death for our sins. For our forefather Adam, having transgressed God’s commandment, fell away from his inheritance. Therefore, our Master and Lord Jesus Christ clothed Himself in our flesh and transformed it into the bread when, at the supper, He took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to His disciples and apostles, saying: “Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you.” And again, after the supper, He took the cup of the fruit of the vine, and having given thanks to God the Father, He gave it to them, saying: “This is my blood of the new testament.”

For when the Lord Himself says, “This is my body and my blood, which I have given unto my disciples,” and commands them, saying, “This do in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come,” how can we not be filled with awe?

Therefore, brethren, let us also, from the least to the greatest, approach with pure hearts and unashamed faces the wondrous and dreadful God, before whom even the sinless angels tremble. Yet we, who sin daily, how dare we come forward without fear to receive the Most Pure Body and Most Precious Blood of the Lord? How do we make this promise when the priest proclaims, “Lift up your hearts,” and we answer, “We lift them up unto the Lord”—yet we lie to Him who knows all hearts? We honor Him only with our lips. We come to church not for the sake of God but to look at one another. Our bodies stand in the church, but our hearts and minds wander about our homes or elsewhere. One man stands here now, yet his thoughts are occupied with his wealth, pondering how to increase it. Another worries about how to escape poverty. Others among us concern themselves with food and drink, thinking about how they might be invited to a feast.

But no one cares about this: how he will die and stand before God, to whom even now we falsely promise that we lift our hearts to Him, while in the church we speak about others, judge them, or discuss the vain affairs of this world.

But hear the prophet David, who says: “What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good.” What, then, is more wicked than speaking ill of one’s neighbor in the church or discussing the affairs of this fleeting world, from which we must soon depart in death? If a man wishes to build a house or talk about his possessions, let him speak of these things in his own house.

But in the Church, it is fitting only to weep for one’s sins and to pray to God—not openly, but in secret within one’s soul—and to wash one’s body with tears, that the soul may be cleansed. It is not right to concern oneself with the cares of this world, nor to engage in shameful and idle speech, defiling the soul as a swine defiles itself in its own filth.

If anyone, bearing such wickedness in his heart, comes to receive Communion without the fear of God—whether he harbors anger against someone, or holds a grudge, or is envious—such a person shall be worthy of eternal torment. But I implore you, brethren: if anyone desires to partake of the Most Pure Body and Blood of Christ, and has any anger against another in his heart, let him first go and be reconciled, and then come with joy and love to receive the Holy Communion in God. But if one has committed fornication or any other sin, or has quarreled with someone and has not made peace, or has spoken of worldly matters in the church during the time of the Liturgy, let him not approach the Holy Body and Blood of Christ.

For if he comes forward and partakes without restraining his tongue from evil and idle talk, and without purifying himself from the filth of sin, he is guilty of the unquenchable fire. The day has twelve hours, yet from these, God has chosen but one hour for this Holy Liturgy. And can you not, my brethren and beloved children of God, stand with fear and trembling for this one hour until the end of the prayer for the salvation of your souls, that our Master Jesus Christ may be honored as He rests upon the holy altar, even as He sits upon the cherubic throne?

For when a man approaches Holy Communion with a pure heart, then all his sins shall be cleansed. Where that which is pure and most holy enters, all is sanctified. Therefore, the righteous shall be filled with the incorruptible nourishment of the Holy Communion.

Hear how the prophet David exhorts the faithful, saying: “O taste and see that the Lord is good.” Let us, brethren and faithful children, be zealous like that woman who, in faith, touched the hem of the Lord’s garment, and immediately in that very hour, the issue of her blood ceased. And having witnessed such a miracle, she glorified God and was saved by her faith. Likewise, let us partake of the Holy Body and Blood of Christ with faith, that He may heal the wounds of our sins.

But if anyone among you harbors anger against another and has not sought reconciliation, let him not enter the church or approach the Most Pure Sacrament, lest he be condemned to eternal torment. Likewise, he who defiles his soul with worldly gossip should not dare to come forward, for such a one is unworthy.

But he who desires to receive the Body and Blood of Christ must cast away all evil deeds. Let us lower our eyes to the ground, but lift up our minds toward heaven, that we may not stand ashamed before the dreadful judgment seat of Christ when He comes in His glory. For He says: “Whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

Hearing these words, brethren, from the Lord Himself, let us be filled with reverence as we stand before Him, who is present upon the holy altar in this fearful hour. Let us strive to keep His commandments, that we may inherit the kingdom of heaven, through Christ Jesus, our Lord.