Yesterday was the first Sunday of August and for many churches, the first Sunday of each month, HOLY COMMUNION is held. What is Holy Communion? Holy Communion is a practice of Christian churches where its members and those in attendance share a sacred moment with God, recognizing how He sacrificed His Son on the cross for us and our sins. It’s a time of prayer and meditation to and with God and includes the intake of a small piece of bread or cracker and a sip of wine or grape juice, representing the body and blood of Jesus Christ. These two items are used because those were the items Jesus picked up from the Passover table and gave to His disciples the night before His crucifixion (Matthew 26:26-28).
Now, according to the biblical character Paul, being able to take Holy Communion is an entitlement and you should make sure you are worthy of a seat at the Communion table. Paul says in 1Corinthians 11:27-29, that whomever eats the bread and drinks from the cup of the Lord and is not worthy will be dubbed guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. He suggests you examine yourself first and make sure you are worthy because if you are not, you may be eating and drinking judgment on yourself. So the old church mothers would advise you to “govern yourselves accordingly,” depending on your walk with God. Younger Saints would say, “you better check yourself before you wreck yourself” at that Communion table.
After taking Communion, it is appropriate to return to your seat (if you left it) and spend some quiet time in prayer. Some people might prefer to silently pray a spontaneous prayer of thanksgiving or recite a traditional one from memory, while others might prefer to sit in silent Communion with Jesus who they have just received. But what you don’t want to do after receiving Communion is make a mad dash for the door. That meal you are racing to is not going anywhere. Now if it’s an emergency, that’s different, but please don’t leave.The liturgy does not end after Communion; it concludes with the final blessing and the dismissal.
At the end of the day, whether or not you take Holy Communion is completely up to you and your relationship with God. Just know that there are benefits and consequences when taking Holy Communion and the benefits far outweigh the consequences. It’s called HOLY COMMUNION for a reason.
With Agape Love,
Willie Mae