Reflection on the Eucharist – Anne Richards
It is most important to me that the Eucharist is part of our worship service as I believe it is in accord with our Lord’s exhortation to commemorate this holy meal with fellow believers “until he come.” I consider it to be a pivotal part of weekly worship services that include:
- Adoration, confession of sins, and the declaration of forgiveness.
- Thanksgiving for the unspeakable gift of forgiveness for our shortcomings and the opportunity to start afresh.
- Commemoration of the initial meal with Jesus and his followers.
- Confirmation of our salvation through Christ’s redeeming love on the cross, and his resurrection which gave us the promise of eternal life through his name.
- Partaking in the holy meal together as the “People of the Book” in obedience to his command to do this in remembrance of him.
If we, as Christian people, gather each week to share in worship, hear the Holy Scriptures and exposition, and adore the Lord in music and songs of praise, given the opportunity of repentance and receiving forgiveness, then the culmination is the participation together as the family of God in the common meal – of the gifts of the Lord for the people of God – that is, bread and wine as we are exhorted to do.
A common meal is bonding I believe, as an essential part of life in the Eastern nations particularly and we would do well to carry this through all aspects of our lives. This is to say that the Eucharistic inaugurates a new family in Christ.
Anne Richards
Congregation of Paul the Apostle (South Melbourne)