Glory be to Jesus Christ. Glory forever. I'd
like to invite you to come forward. In the name
of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
And the Holy Spirit. Amen. This morning's topic
is on the Holy Eucharist, on communion. And it's
based on what you just heard, that marvelous
gospel taken from the 14th chapter of St. Matthew.
I must say at the beginning that it's important
to note that out of the 30 plus miracles that
our Lord Jesus Christ performed, out of the 30,
only one, the one that you heard in the gospel
today, and Matthew said 5 ,000 beside men, beside
women and children is found in all four Gospels.
The miracle we are celebrating today is not in
some historical sense. But if in fact a miracle
which we are blessed today to participate in.
The church from the very first days had stressed
the significance of this event. Because it is
Extreme importance. In terms of our spiritual
understanding. Our health and our strength. In
understanding the implications and importance
of this particular miracle. From the very first
days again I repeat. This passage which we heard.
Is also referred to as the multiplication of
bread. Is but a preview. It points to. It's a
foreshadowing of. The Holy Eucharist. That Christ
himself established. On Holy Thursday. Notice
that. What generally is conceived. And understood.
He fed five thousand. With five breads. And two
fish. And the very first. Passage. We read. Is
our Lord. Was moved with compassion. Toward them.
And the disciples. Suggested to Christ. That
Lord. They followed you all this way. The night.
Is about to fall. Send them away. So they could
find something to eat. And I could imagine. If
I were one of the disciples, I'd say, say what,
Lord? We have no such things. It's an impossible
task. It's beyond our capability to feed 5 ,000
people. But then one of them said, well, we have
five breads and two fish. That tells me that.
In the hands of the Lord. Even the smallest gift.
Will be multiplied. Beyond our understanding.
And he blessed the bread. Gave it to his disciples.
So that they could distribute it. And after all
had eaten. There were 12 baskets left over. Talk
about. Passion, glory, and blessing of the Lord.
There is something in this event that is beyond
and far more important and enriching than simply
satisfying the physical needs of our body. That
is why this particular event the Fathers tell
us is but a foreshadowing of the event of Holy
Thursday. One of the most more obvious things
that we in our society have accepted. And essentially
it is this. Things are just things. No, says
the scriptures. No. Things are not just things.
The world is God's creation. And exists as a
means of our communion with him. You know for
the secular world God is opaque. He can't be
found. He's obscured. Or better to say he has
been dismissed. But the world is but a sacrament.
The world is an icon of God's creation. The final
words the priest prays as the body is being lowered
into the earth is this. The earth is the Lord's
and the fullness thereof. All is His. And I want
to digress just a moment to point out the illustration
that I find very revealing. You know, a few weeks
ago we had a wedding. And the bride was a little
bit late. And so people were coming in. the church
and going out. And I noticed one individual came
in and then a few moments later he came out.
He says, I need some fresh air. But he said,
you know, I'm impressed with your auditorium.
I said, what, are you talking about the church
hall? No, he said, this auditorium. This is not
an auditorium, sir. This is the church. In an
auditorium. People meet people. But in church
you meet Christ. That's a good concept. During
the liturgy. Do we not sing. Holy. Holy. Holy.
Heaven and earth. Are full of thy glory. So my
dear people. I want to underscore the fact. We
do not live in a world of matter. We live in
a world. Which is filled with holy matter. And
with holy things. Because God has created them.
And in the very first chapter. He said. As we
read. It's good. It is often said, man is what
he eats. That's a cliche, I know it is. But there
is a profound spiritual truth involved in that.
Listen to what Jesus said as he spoke to his
disciples in the sixth chapter of St. John. And
the living bread that came down from heaven.
The living bread that came down from heaven.
If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.
And the bread which I will give to the world
is my flesh. So we are dealing here. With a miracle.
A miracle of God's love and grace. That he has
brought us together. Not to simply greet one
another. Which is a wonderful blessing. But to
participate in his life. The life that he has
come to share with us. Listen to what Saint Ambrose
had to say about communion. When the body of
Christ is placed on the lips of the believer,
it is truly a kiss given by Christ to the soul.
And then he continues by saying, it's like a
nuptial union, the believer and the Lord. How
graphic, how intense. It's like a nuptial union.
Communion is the greatest, the most intimate
encounter with the Lord of life. It is encounter
with heaven and earth. It's the mystery, a mystery
which is beyond our understanding, but a mystery
of God's presence and yet his transcendence.
His glory and his humility. It is for this reason
that Jesus said before he left his disciples
and ascended into heaven, I am with you always
until the end of time. He is with us. He graciously
consents to give us himself. It is a moment,
the greatest moment, and this is not an exaggeration,
but the greatest moment that you and I will ever
encounter and experience in this world, as long
as we live. That's why it's so important to receive
communion. Is the most enriching. The most transfiguring
moment. We could experience on this side of the
grave. I can't say it any more clear. In this
context. And I noticed in the bulletin. Father
alluded to this. In this context, my dear people,
I think it's necessary for me to say, unlike
what non -Orthodox preachers and teachers say,
communion is not a symbol. It's not some historical
memorial. And it's not some sentimental expression
of fellowship. It is, I believe, O Lord, and
I confess that this is indeed thy most pure body
and thy precious blood. That's why we do not
participate in that communion with others, nor...
Do we have open communion? St. Ignatius of Antioch,
in the very first century, called the Eucharist
the medicine of immortality and the antidote
against death. This sacrament and why Father
Lawrence keeps mentioning that you should stay
to listen to the prayers after liturgy. And I
know I'm probably the greatest violator in talking.
But you know, I'm so glad to see others. But
I guess I have to kind of discipline myself.
But communion is not the work of any human effort,
nor can it be. But it's the sanctifying and transforming
work of the Holy Spirit. During the course of
the liturgy, the celebrant prays. Make this bread
to be the precious body of Christ. And the congregation
responds. And make this, that which is in child's,
to be the precious blood of thy Christ. And the
congregation responds. And then he says, by the
power. By the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Not once but three times. Yea Lord. Absolutely
so be it. And Saint John of Damascus. Wrote these
words. The bread of communion. Is not mere bread.
But bread. United. With divinity. The wonder
of the sacrament. The purpose of the communion.
The effects of the Eucharist. Brings about. A
change. That again I say at the expense of being
repetitious. Is beyond our understanding. And
beyond our description. And in the latter part
of the liturgy, we pray that Christ, our Pascha,
Pascha meaning Passover of our Lord, the power
and wisdom of God will grant us to partake more
perfectly in the never -ending day of his kingdom.
where the voice of those that feast is unending,
and the delight of those that behold his inexpressible
beauty is beyond telling. Amen.