Worthy Reception of Christ's Body and Blood

Approaching the Lord's Table Worthily

1. As we heard when the Holy Gospel was being read, the Lord Jesus Christ invited us to eternal life by promising that we must eat His Flesh and drink His Blood. Those of you who heard these words may not all have understood them. Those who have been baptized and are faithful already know what He meant. But those among you who are still called Catechumens, or Hearers, could hear the reading, but could they understand it as well?

My message today is directed to both groups. Let those who already eat the Flesh of the Lord and drink His Blood consider what they are eating and drinking, lest, as the Apostle says, "They eat and drink judgment to themselves" (1 Corinthians 11:29). But those who don't yet eat and drink should hurry to accept this invitation to such a Banquet.

During these days, your teachers instruct you. Christ Himself feeds you daily; His Table is always prepared before you. Why is it, my dear Hearers, that you see the Table but don't come to the Banquet? Perhaps just now when the Gospel was being read, you thought to yourselves, "We wonder what He means by saying, 'My Flesh is food indeed, and My Blood is drink indeed.' How can the Lord's Flesh be eaten and His Blood be drunk? We're puzzled by what He says."

Who has kept you from understanding this? There's a veil over this mystery, but if you're willing, that veil can be removed. Come to baptism, and you'll resolve this difficulty. The faithful already know what the Lord Jesus meant. But you're called a Catechumen, a Hearer—yet in some ways, you're still deaf. Your physical ears are open since you hear the spoken words, but your heart's ears are still closed because you don't understand what was said.

I'm appealing to you, not debating with you. Easter is approaching—register your name for baptism! If the festival doesn't motivate you, let curiosity itself prompt you. Then you'll understand what is meant by, "Whoever eats My Flesh and drinks My Blood abides in Me, and I in him" (John 6:56). To understand this with me, "Knock, and it shall be opened to you" (Matthew 7:7). And just as I say to you, "Knock, and it shall be opened," so I too am knocking—please open to me. When I speak aloud to your ears, I'm knocking at your heart.

2. But if the Catechumens need encouragement not to delay approaching this great grace of rebirth, how carefully should we build up the faithful, so that their approach benefits them and they don't eat and drink this Banquet to their own judgment! For them to avoid eating and drinking to their judgment, they must live well. Be encouragers not just with words but by your conduct, so those not yet baptized will hasten to follow you, without being ruined by imitating you.

You who are married, maintain faithfulness in your marriage bed with your wives. Give what you expect. As a husband, you demand faithfulness from your wife; set an example for her, don't just give her words. You are the head; be mindful of where you're going. You should walk where it won't be dangerous for her to follow. In fact, you should only walk where you want her to follow. You expect strength from the weaker sex, yet you both experience fleshly desires. The stronger one should be the first to exercise self-control.

Yet sadly, many men are outdone by women. Women maintain chastity when men won't, and by failing to maintain it, these men still want to appear manly—as if being stronger physically only makes them more easily overcome by the enemy. There is a struggle, a battle, a combat. The man is stronger than the woman; "the man is the head of the woman" (Ephesians 5:23). When the woman fights and overcomes, why do you surrender to the enemy? Her body stands firm, while the head falls?

Those of you who don't yet have wives but already approach the Lord's Table to eat Christ's Flesh and drink His Blood, if you plan to marry, keep yourselves pure for your wives. You should come to them just as you would want them to come to you. What young man doesn't wish for a pure wife? And when marrying a virgin, who wouldn't want her to be untouched? You expect purity—be pure yourself. You look for someone clean—don't be unclean yourself. It's not that she can do it but you can't. If it were impossible, she couldn't do it either.

Since she can maintain purity, this proves it's possible for you too. God guides her to have this strength. But you'll have greater glory if you maintain purity. Why greater glory? Her parents' watchfulness restrains her, the natural modesty of the female sex is a check for her, and she fears laws that don't concern you. Therefore, you'll have greater glory if you maintain purity, because you fear God alone. She has many things to fear besides God, but you fear only God.

But the One you fear is greater than all others. He is to be feared in public and in private. You go out, He sees you; you go in, He sees you. The lamp is lit, He sees you; the lamp is extinguished, He sees you. You enter your bedroom, He sees you; you reflect in your heart, He sees you. Fear Him, the One who cares enough to watch you, and through this fear, remain pure. Or if you intend to sin, find a place where He cannot see you, and then do what you wish.

3. And you who have already taken vows of celibacy, discipline your bodies even more strictly. Don't allow yourselves to loosen the reins on desires, even for things that are permitted. This way, you'll not only avoid unlawful relationships but will even disregard inappropriate gazes.

Remember, whatever your gender, that you're already living the life of angels on earth. "For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven" (Matthew 22:30). This is what we'll be after the resurrection. How much better are you who begin before death to be what others will only become after the resurrection!

Keep your proper place, for God preserves your honors. The resurrection of the dead is compared to the stars set in heaven. "For one star differs from another star in glory," as the Apostle says, "so also is the resurrection of the dead" (1 Corinthians 15:41-42). Virginity will shine there in one way, marital faithfulness will shine in another, and holy widowhood in yet another. They will shine differently, but all will be there—unequal brightness, but the same heaven.

4. With your thoughts on your proper state and keeping your commitments, approach the Flesh of the Lord; approach the Blood of the Lord. Whoever knows they haven't been living as they should, let them not approach. Be moved to repentance by my words.

Those who know they are maintaining for their wives what they expect from their wives, those who know they are keeping continence in every way—especially if they've vowed this to God—will rejoice at my words. But those who hear me say, "Whoever among you is not maintaining purity, don't approach that Bread," will be saddened.

I'd prefer not to say this, but what can I do? Should I fear people so much that I suppress the truth? What if these servants don't fear the Lord—should I also not fear Him? As if I don't know it is said, "You wicked and lazy servant, you should have distributed my money, and I would collect what is mine" (Matthew 25:26-27).

Look, I have distributed, O Lord my God. In Your sight, in the sight of Your holy angels, and before these people, I have invested Your money. I do this because I fear Your judgment. I have distributed; now You demand the return. Though even if I remained silent, You would still require it. Therefore, I prefer to say: I have distributed; now You transform lives, You show mercy.

Make chaste those who have been unchaste, so that in Your sight we may rejoice together when judgment comes—both the one who distributed and those to whom it was distributed. Does this please you? I hope so!

Whoever among you is living impurely, amend your ways while you're still alive. I have the authority to speak God's word, but I have no power to deliver the unchaste who persist in wickedness from God's judgment and condemnation.