October 19

Examine yourselves whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. 2 Corinthians 13:5.

"Who receives such Sacrament worthily?" This is a most important question both for the communicant and for the Church. We all should know the right answer in order that we may all partake worthily of the Holy Supper of our Lord. May it, therefore, be our daily concern to make sure at all times that we are using the Sacrament in a salutary manner.

Who, then, receives such Sacrament worthily? Luther says: "Fasting and bodily preparation is, indeed, a fine outward training; but he is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words, 'Given and shed for you for the remission of sins.'" Fasting, in Luther's day, was a universal custom. "Bodily preparation" is the care bestowed upon the body; we are to appear at the Lord's Table clean and with appropriate clothing and to approach it with modest demeanor. This is a fine and praiseworthy custom. Nevertheless, it touches only the body, not the soul. It is but something outward; even an unbeliever is able to do it. In itself these mere outward things profit nothing to render us worthy. True worthiness at the Lord's Table is not an outward, but an inner worthiness. Neither is it a worthiness according to the Law, but according to the Gospel. It does not consist in absolute freedom from sin and perfection of life, but rather in fully realizing our unworthiness and sinfulness, in having a contrite heart that is spiritually pure, in earnestly desiring the forgiveness of sins, also taking comfort in this forgiveness.

In short, what makes the Christian fit to receive the blessings of the Lord's Supper is not any fitness of his own, but his faith in Him who has atoned for his unworthiness, his sinfulness, before God. The blessing of Communion is the forgiveness of sin. This

blessing can be received only by faith. Jesus forgave a certain woman, a very sinful woman, saying to her, "Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace." Faith makes a worthy communicant. True worthiness consists only and solely in this, that the communicant believe in these words: "Given and shed for you for the remission of sins." Nothing but faith can make a communicant worthy. We must have faith which trusts in the word "For you."

Prayer.

Almighty and eternal God, who hast commanded us to celebrate the Sacrament of the body and blood of Thy dear Son in remembrance of His suffering and death, grant, we beseech Thee, that we may ever receive Thy Sacrament worthily. Works of our own righteousness can never make us worthy before Thee. We must have faith, which trusts in the word of promise, firm confidence, which accepts the benefits of the Sacrament, the fruits of Thy Son's redemption, and appropriates them as its own, and the assurance that we are acceptable with Thee. Lord, give us this faith, which alone makes us truly worthy and well prepared, and we shall praise Thee forever. Amen.

May God be praised henceforth and blest forever, Who, Himself both Gift and Giver, With His own flesh and blood our souls doth nourish; May they grow thereby and flourish!