Wed., May 18, 2005
CHRIST IS RISEN!
Stephen the New, Patriarch of Constantinople
Kellia: Deuteronomy 1:5-18 Apostle: Acts 8:18-28 Gospel: St. John 6:35-39
St. John 6:35-39, especially vs. 35: "...He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he
who believes in Me shall never thirst." Receiving Holy Communion appears to be simple and straightforward enough: the
communicant approaches the Holy Chalice, the Kalymma, or Holy Napkin, is placed under his chin, and he receives the
Holy Gifts from the Labis or Eucharistic Spoon. Without doubt, the spiritual act of Holy Communion is far more complex.
Spiritual realities flash and radiate within and around each communicant as he receives: worthiness, fear, love,
condemnation, mystery, conscience, forgiveness, the Holy Spirit, the Kingdom of Heaven, Divine Mercy, Holy Fire from
God, purification of sins, enlightenment of the soul, the Church, the indwelling of Christ, and the Last Great Judgment.
The poor human mind, heart, and soul cannot comprehend all these realities, and yet they impinge upon each of us as we
receive. Consider just three aspects of Holy Communion which the Lord sets forward in today's reading: receiving the
Body and Blood of Christ takes away hunger forever (vs. 35), Holy Communion satisfies a thirst which is otherwise
unquenchable (vs. 35), and partaking of the Holy Gifts tenders Resurrection to the one who communicates (vs. 39). First,
the Lord says, we must "come to" Him when we receive (vs. 35). So much is imbedded in this tiny phrase. Yes, we
approach on our feet and draw near the Chalice with our bodies, but so often our souls and hearts are very greatly scattered!
How we need to gather up the disparate elements of our being into a concerted, focused reception! Still, Christ our God
will help us as we exert ourselves to meet Him. So, let us cry out from our hearts, that the Lord Jesus will open the eyes of
our hearts to see Him, so that we may approach Him not wandering. Observe how the Lord reminds us to come to Him:
He says, "I Am the Bread come down from Heaven" (Jn. 6:33) that your spiritual hunger may be taken away. Notice that
He separates spiritual hunger from spiritual thirst. What is the meaning of this distinction? Taking earthly food supplies
different physical processes than does the drinking of liquids, even though the two are closely related. Solid food
"nourishes;" drink "quenches."
To receive His Immaculate Body nourishes the whole of our being. If we set our hearts and minds on the "simplicity that is
in Christ" (2 Cor. 11:3), striving to drive off all else that intrudes, then, by God's grace, we shall be fed with Him and by
Him Who is eternal Truth and Life. Let us seek Him alone and "apply [our] heart to understanding.... [that we] procure not
the reproaches of bad men [nor] covet their ways" (Prov. 2:2; 3:31 LXX). Let us be assured: the Lord will nourish our
flagging spirit, and we shall find the strength to do His will. Let us say, "O Lord, have mercy on me, heal my soul, for I
have sinned against Thee" (Ps. 40:4 LXX), then will our mouth be "filled with joy, and our tongue with rejoicing" (Ps.
125:2 LXX).
As we set our hearts upon Him and open to Him Who knocks, He comes to sup with us and dwells with us (Rev. 3:20).
Truly, "my soul thirsted for God, the mighty, the living" (Ps. 41:2 LXX), "my throat is become hoarse from my hoping in
God" (Ps. 68:4 LXX), yet He promises, "when their tongue is parched with thirst, I the Lord God...will not forsake them,
but open rivers on the mountains, and fountains in the midst of plains" (Is. 41:17,18 LXX).
Finally, when we "see" Him in the Holy Gifts and believe in Him, then, in receiving His Immaculate Body and Precious
Blood, we are infused with the Risen Lord Himself Who imparts everlasting life to us (Jn. 6:40). Let us not doubt that He
will raise us up on the last day!
Even unto my last breath, may I worthily partake of Thy Holy Things, unto the remission of my sins and unto life eternal, O
Thou Who art the Bread of Life and the Fountain of holiness.
