Corpus Christi

But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.

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 for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took 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.

Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.

So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another— if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things I will give directions when I come.

1 Corinthians 11:17-34

When we enter into God's holy temple, may He mercifully empty our hearts of all malice, all resentment, all anger, all pride, all envy, all despondency, all impurity, all distraction, all gluttony, all sloth, all avarice, all timorousness, all that separates us from the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, all that makes us forget where we are and what we owe our Creator.

May He fill us instead with faith, hope and charity. May we receive Him worthily and become more like to Him Whom we receive, making good use of His gifts to the glory of His holy name. Before we dare to receive, let us carefully examine our consciences as Saint Paul has taught us, and if we cannot receive Him worthily because of sin, may the Lord guide us to true repentance.

Thank you Lord, for all you have given us.