Its my sister’s graduation. there is a mass on their school ans i have attended. when its time to take the body of Christ, I told my self “What if im not yet ready to receive Jesus?”. Will there be a consequence if I eat the body of Christ if im not yet ready to receive him?
tomorrow is the last supper of my CoC friend, I told him,
Me: the last supper is to remember Jesus rite?
Friend: Yes.
Me: you only do this once a Year?
Friend: Yes.
Me: you only remember Jesus once a year?
Friend: No. But there is a Curse for the people who eat the body of Christ even if they are not yet ready.
Can you comment on this?
Jersen:
Your CofC friend is probably referring to the following scripture - I’ll give you the entire scripture:
*For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes (in glory).
*
Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we should not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are chastened so that we may not be condemned along with the world.
I Cor 11:23-32 RSV
Now, this is why we need to avail ourselves of the Sacrament of Reconciliation before receiving the Lord’s Body and Blood in the Eucharist if we are conscious of Grave or Serious Sin. What your Cof C friend has missed is that the Lord very clearly said, “As often as you do this…” I just can’t see how once a year fulfills the “Often” requirement if we are to obey our Lord, God and Savior.
Here is an interesting passage from Isaiah - The first 3 verses appear to refer to the Eucharist and the rest to the creation and birth of the Church:*Therefore thus says the Lord GOD:
“Behold, my servants shall eat,
but you shall be hungry;
behold, my servants shall drink,
but you shall be thirsty;
behold, my servants shall rejoice,
but you shall be put to shame;
behold, my servants shall sing for gladness of heart,
but you shall cry out for pain of heart,
and shall wail for anguish of spirit.
You shall leave your name to my chosen for a curse,
and the Lord GOD will slay you;
but his servants he will call by a different name.
So that he who blesses himself in the land
shall bless himself by the God of truth,
and he who takes an oath in the land
shall swear by the God of truth;
because the former troubles are forgotten
and are hid from my eyes.”
*
“For behold, I create new heavens
and a new earth;
and the former things shall not be remembered
or come into mind.
But be glad and rejoice for ever
in that which I create;
for behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing,
and her people a joy.”
Isaiah 65:13-18 RSV
Here are some other Scriptures (Listed):
John 6:25-69 - Remind him that “Spirit and Life” doesn’t undo everything that Christ said in this scripture, but only said that he is providing food for our souls as Bread provides food for our bodies. Otherwise, all of those who left would have returned…
I Cor 10: 1-4, 16-22 - Fairly complex sacramental theology. You may need to read the entire chapter and use a good Study Bible.
CofC claims to be a 1st Century church. What you’re going to need to do is to show your friend the need for a BISHOP and/or PRIEST in order to celebrate the Eucharist. there’s plenty of material from ECF’s from the 1st & 2nd Centuries on this, and you’re going to need to look it up. You might start by seeing if this or similar Questions have been asked before here at Catholic Answers. You might also want to get copies of
The Mass of the Early Christians, by Mike Aquilina and
The Lamb’s Supper, by Scott Hahn.
I hope this helps.
Your Brother and Servant in Christ, Michael
, even though his congregation’s Communion is purely symbolic.