WEBVTT 00:00:03.020 --> 00:00:12.599 Glory be to Jesus Christ. Glory forever. I'd 00:00:12.599 --> 00:00:28.359 like to invite you to come forward. In the name 00:00:28.359 --> 00:00:31.000 of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 00:00:30.829 --> 00:00:36.189 And the Holy Spirit. Amen. This morning's topic 00:00:36.189 --> 00:00:45.710 is on the Holy Eucharist, on communion. And it's 00:00:45.710 --> 00:00:50.369 based on what you just heard, that marvelous 00:00:50.369 --> 00:00:56.530 gospel taken from the 14th chapter of St. Matthew. 00:01:00.909 --> 00:01:06.989 I must say at the beginning that it's important 00:01:06.989 --> 00:01:14.049 to note that out of the 30 plus miracles that 00:01:14.049 --> 00:01:20.109 our Lord Jesus Christ performed, out of the 30, 00:01:20.290 --> 00:01:26.409 only one, the one that you heard in the gospel 00:01:26.409 --> 00:01:38.420 today, and Matthew said 5 ,000 beside men, beside 00:01:38.420 --> 00:01:44.319 women and children is found in all four Gospels. 00:01:46.659 --> 00:01:55.719 The miracle we are celebrating today is not in 00:01:55.719 --> 00:02:00.900 some historical sense. But if in fact a miracle 00:02:00.900 --> 00:02:08.199 which we are blessed today to participate in. 00:02:11.319 --> 00:02:19.219 The church from the very first days had stressed 00:02:19.219 --> 00:02:24.620 the significance of this event. Because it is 00:02:28.810 --> 00:02:34.430 Extreme importance. In terms of our spiritual 00:02:34.430 --> 00:02:40.610 understanding. Our health and our strength. In 00:02:40.610 --> 00:02:43.849 understanding the implications and importance 00:02:43.849 --> 00:02:49.889 of this particular miracle. From the very first 00:02:49.889 --> 00:02:56.930 days again I repeat. This passage which we heard. 00:02:58.060 --> 00:03:01.240 Is also referred to as the multiplication of 00:03:01.240 --> 00:03:09.860 bread. Is but a preview. It points to. It's a 00:03:09.860 --> 00:03:14.560 foreshadowing of. The Holy Eucharist. That Christ 00:03:14.560 --> 00:03:22.800 himself established. On Holy Thursday. Notice 00:03:22.800 --> 00:03:29.500 that. What generally is conceived. And understood. 00:03:31.800 --> 00:03:39.500 He fed five thousand. With five breads. And two 00:03:39.500 --> 00:03:50.719 fish. And the very first. Passage. We read. Is 00:03:50.719 --> 00:03:56.379 our Lord. Was moved with compassion. Toward them. 00:03:59.340 --> 00:04:05.080 And the disciples. Suggested to Christ. That 00:04:05.080 --> 00:04:10.180 Lord. They followed you all this way. The night. 00:04:10.460 --> 00:04:15.800 Is about to fall. Send them away. So they could 00:04:15.800 --> 00:04:25.220 find something to eat. And I could imagine. If 00:04:25.220 --> 00:04:27.740 I were one of the disciples, I'd say, say what, 00:04:27.860 --> 00:04:33.139 Lord? We have no such things. It's an impossible 00:04:33.139 --> 00:04:38.259 task. It's beyond our capability to feed 5 ,000 00:04:38.259 --> 00:04:45.600 people. But then one of them said, well, we have 00:04:45.600 --> 00:04:53.199 five breads and two fish. That tells me that. 00:04:53.769 --> 00:04:58.930 In the hands of the Lord. Even the smallest gift. 00:05:00.050 --> 00:05:04.629 Will be multiplied. Beyond our understanding. 00:05:05.569 --> 00:05:11.629 And he blessed the bread. Gave it to his disciples. 00:05:11.709 --> 00:05:15.290 So that they could distribute it. And after all 00:05:15.290 --> 00:05:21.790 had eaten. There were 12 baskets left over. Talk 00:05:21.790 --> 00:05:28.889 about. Passion, glory, and blessing of the Lord. 00:05:31.310 --> 00:05:37.550 There is something in this event that is beyond 00:05:37.550 --> 00:05:46.889 and far more important and enriching than simply 00:05:46.889 --> 00:05:54.069 satisfying the physical needs of our body. That 00:05:54.069 --> 00:05:57.889 is why this particular event the Fathers tell 00:05:57.889 --> 00:06:05.350 us is but a foreshadowing of the event of Holy 00:06:05.350 --> 00:06:12.110 Thursday. One of the most more obvious things 00:06:12.110 --> 00:06:23.389 that we in our society have accepted. And essentially 00:06:23.389 --> 00:06:33.889 it is this. Things are just things. No, says 00:06:33.889 --> 00:06:38.790 the scriptures. No. Things are not just things. 00:06:39.930 --> 00:06:47.389 The world is God's creation. And exists as a 00:06:47.389 --> 00:06:52.579 means of our communion with him. You know for 00:06:52.579 --> 00:07:02.480 the secular world God is opaque. He can't be 00:07:02.480 --> 00:07:09.360 found. He's obscured. Or better to say he has 00:07:09.360 --> 00:07:16.680 been dismissed. But the world is but a sacrament. 00:07:19.079 --> 00:07:30.740 The world is an icon of God's creation. The final 00:07:30.740 --> 00:07:36.720 words the priest prays as the body is being lowered 00:07:36.720 --> 00:07:44.279 into the earth is this. The earth is the Lord's 00:07:44.279 --> 00:07:52.579 and the fullness thereof. All is His. And I want 00:07:52.579 --> 00:07:58.180 to digress just a moment to point out the illustration 00:07:58.180 --> 00:08:04.879 that I find very revealing. You know, a few weeks 00:08:04.879 --> 00:08:11.139 ago we had a wedding. And the bride was a little 00:08:11.139 --> 00:08:18.149 bit late. And so people were coming in. the church 00:08:18.149 --> 00:08:23.750 and going out. And I noticed one individual came 00:08:23.750 --> 00:08:27.790 in and then a few moments later he came out. 00:08:27.829 --> 00:08:30.329 He says, I need some fresh air. But he said, 00:08:30.370 --> 00:08:34.070 you know, I'm impressed with your auditorium. 00:08:37.850 --> 00:08:39.850 I said, what, are you talking about the church 00:08:39.850 --> 00:08:44.389 hall? No, he said, this auditorium. This is not 00:08:44.389 --> 00:08:49.240 an auditorium, sir. This is the church. In an 00:08:49.240 --> 00:08:51.840 auditorium. People meet people. But in church 00:08:51.840 --> 00:09:05.679 you meet Christ. That's a good concept. During 00:09:05.679 --> 00:09:10.840 the liturgy. Do we not sing. Holy. Holy. Holy. 00:09:13.360 --> 00:09:21.450 Heaven and earth. Are full of thy glory. So my 00:09:21.450 --> 00:09:24.710 dear people. I want to underscore the fact. We 00:09:24.710 --> 00:09:28.169 do not live in a world of matter. We live in 00:09:28.169 --> 00:09:32.129 a world. Which is filled with holy matter. And 00:09:32.129 --> 00:09:35.730 with holy things. Because God has created them. 00:09:35.830 --> 00:09:40.370 And in the very first chapter. He said. As we 00:09:40.370 --> 00:09:56.820 read. It's good. It is often said, man is what 00:09:56.820 --> 00:10:04.259 he eats. That's a cliche, I know it is. But there 00:10:04.259 --> 00:10:08.360 is a profound spiritual truth involved in that. 00:10:11.600 --> 00:10:16.840 Listen to what Jesus said as he spoke to his 00:10:16.840 --> 00:10:29.299 disciples in the sixth chapter of St. John. And 00:10:29.299 --> 00:10:33.340 the living bread that came down from heaven. 00:10:33.980 --> 00:10:36.600 The living bread that came down from heaven. 00:10:37.639 --> 00:10:44.279 If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. 00:10:46.120 --> 00:10:50.919 And the bread which I will give to the world 00:10:50.919 --> 00:11:01.990 is my flesh. So we are dealing here. With a miracle. 00:11:04.470 --> 00:11:08.389 A miracle of God's love and grace. That he has 00:11:08.389 --> 00:11:12.049 brought us together. Not to simply greet one 00:11:12.049 --> 00:11:15.049 another. Which is a wonderful blessing. But to 00:11:15.049 --> 00:11:19.669 participate in his life. The life that he has 00:11:19.669 --> 00:11:25.610 come to share with us. Listen to what Saint Ambrose 00:11:25.610 --> 00:11:31.879 had to say about communion. When the body of 00:11:31.879 --> 00:11:35.019 Christ is placed on the lips of the believer, 00:11:35.220 --> 00:11:42.059 it is truly a kiss given by Christ to the soul. 00:11:43.120 --> 00:11:46.720 And then he continues by saying, it's like a 00:11:46.720 --> 00:11:52.440 nuptial union, the believer and the Lord. How 00:11:52.440 --> 00:11:58.700 graphic, how intense. It's like a nuptial union. 00:12:01.549 --> 00:12:07.830 Communion is the greatest, the most intimate 00:12:07.830 --> 00:12:14.590 encounter with the Lord of life. It is encounter 00:12:14.590 --> 00:12:22.389 with heaven and earth. It's the mystery, a mystery 00:12:22.389 --> 00:12:25.409 which is beyond our understanding, but a mystery 00:12:25.409 --> 00:12:29.529 of God's presence and yet his transcendence. 00:12:32.840 --> 00:12:40.259 His glory and his humility. It is for this reason 00:12:40.259 --> 00:12:45.080 that Jesus said before he left his disciples 00:12:45.080 --> 00:12:49.379 and ascended into heaven, I am with you always 00:12:49.379 --> 00:12:57.559 until the end of time. He is with us. He graciously 00:12:57.559 --> 00:13:05.350 consents to give us himself. It is a moment, 00:13:05.450 --> 00:13:11.850 the greatest moment, and this is not an exaggeration, 00:13:11.990 --> 00:13:16.529 but the greatest moment that you and I will ever 00:13:16.529 --> 00:13:20.769 encounter and experience in this world, as long 00:13:20.769 --> 00:13:30.649 as we live. That's why it's so important to receive 00:13:30.649 --> 00:13:37.500 communion. Is the most enriching. The most transfiguring 00:13:37.500 --> 00:13:41.639 moment. We could experience on this side of the 00:13:41.639 --> 00:13:52.460 grave. I can't say it any more clear. In this 00:13:52.460 --> 00:13:57.240 context. And I noticed in the bulletin. Father 00:13:57.240 --> 00:14:02.419 alluded to this. In this context, my dear people, 00:14:02.519 --> 00:14:08.220 I think it's necessary for me to say, unlike 00:14:08.220 --> 00:14:15.940 what non -Orthodox preachers and teachers say, 00:14:16.179 --> 00:14:25.259 communion is not a symbol. It's not some historical 00:14:25.259 --> 00:14:31.940 memorial. And it's not some sentimental expression 00:14:31.940 --> 00:14:40.220 of fellowship. It is, I believe, O Lord, and 00:14:40.220 --> 00:14:44.320 I confess that this is indeed thy most pure body 00:14:44.320 --> 00:14:50.139 and thy precious blood. That's why we do not 00:14:50.139 --> 00:14:57.059 participate in that communion with others, nor... 00:14:57.580 --> 00:15:06.940 Do we have open communion? St. Ignatius of Antioch, 00:15:07.000 --> 00:15:12.139 in the very first century, called the Eucharist 00:15:12.139 --> 00:15:18.519 the medicine of immortality and the antidote 00:15:18.519 --> 00:15:35.049 against death. This sacrament and why Father 00:15:35.049 --> 00:15:39.289 Lawrence keeps mentioning that you should stay 00:15:39.289 --> 00:15:44.210 to listen to the prayers after liturgy. And I 00:15:44.210 --> 00:15:47.929 know I'm probably the greatest violator in talking. 00:15:48.870 --> 00:15:52.470 But you know, I'm so glad to see others. But 00:15:52.470 --> 00:15:55.929 I guess I have to kind of discipline myself. 00:16:01.789 --> 00:16:09.269 But communion is not the work of any human effort, 00:16:09.389 --> 00:16:15.309 nor can it be. But it's the sanctifying and transforming 00:16:15.309 --> 00:16:21.230 work of the Holy Spirit. During the course of 00:16:21.230 --> 00:16:27.539 the liturgy, the celebrant prays. Make this bread 00:16:27.539 --> 00:16:31.919 to be the precious body of Christ. And the congregation 00:16:31.919 --> 00:16:39.039 responds. And make this, that which is in child's, 00:16:39.059 --> 00:16:42.019 to be the precious blood of thy Christ. And the 00:16:42.019 --> 00:16:47.860 congregation responds. And then he says, by the 00:16:47.860 --> 00:16:54.159 power. By the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 00:16:54.240 --> 00:16:58.659 Not once but three times. Yea Lord. Absolutely 00:16:58.659 --> 00:17:06.740 so be it. And Saint John of Damascus. Wrote these 00:17:06.740 --> 00:17:12.200 words. The bread of communion. Is not mere bread. 00:17:14.960 --> 00:17:24.970 But bread. United. With divinity. The wonder 00:17:24.970 --> 00:17:28.410 of the sacrament. The purpose of the communion. 00:17:29.390 --> 00:17:36.410 The effects of the Eucharist. Brings about. A 00:17:36.410 --> 00:17:41.650 change. That again I say at the expense of being 00:17:41.650 --> 00:17:46.950 repetitious. Is beyond our understanding. And 00:17:46.950 --> 00:17:53.710 beyond our description. And in the latter part 00:17:53.710 --> 00:18:01.349 of the liturgy, we pray that Christ, our Pascha, 00:18:01.349 --> 00:18:08.069 Pascha meaning Passover of our Lord, the power 00:18:08.069 --> 00:18:12.670 and wisdom of God will grant us to partake more 00:18:12.670 --> 00:18:16.529 perfectly in the never -ending day of his kingdom. 00:18:19.589 --> 00:18:25.069 where the voice of those that feast is unending, 00:18:25.130 --> 00:18:31.170 and the delight of those that behold his inexpressible 00:18:31.170 --> 00:18:35.509 beauty is beyond telling. Amen.