A Quick Fast J
H I G H E R T H I N G S __ 30
by Rev. David Petersen
esus promises to be present for us in the Sacrament of the Altar. We eat His body and drink His blood. He forgives our sins and joins us to Himself.That union is not to be entered into lightly, for even though Jesus gives us this for our good, it can be rejected.The body and blood of Jesus are harmful to the soul if taken without discernment. St. Paul writes that whosoever “eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself” (1 Corinthians 11:27–29 ESV). This is why we prepare ourselves for Holy Communion.To be truly worthy and well-prepared is to have faith in these words:“Give and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.” God gives us faith in these words through these words. We hear them, and by God’s grace, we believe them. We trust them.These words prepare us to receive the body and blood of Jesus.Thus prepared we receive what He has promised and what He wants to give: forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation. The main preparation for Communion is done in the worship service.The most essential preparation is to hear the Words of Who receives this Institution. No one should receive the body and blood without first How do you fast? sacrament worthily? hearing these words. If you get to church so late that you walk in during the distribution, don’t go to Communion. But what if you get Fasting means not to Fasting and there just a little late so that you miss the opening hymn and the eat. It is normally done bodily preparation general Confession and Absolution? Some would abstain from by skipping meals. are certainly fine Communion because of this. It is not necessary; you may decide to Some Christians will outward training. But wait. It is up to you. As valuable as Confession and Absolution are for fast during Advent or that person is truly Communion, they are not the essential thing.The essential thing for Lent by skipping lunch worthy and well preparation is the words of Jesus:“Given and shed for you for the and spending the time prepared who has forgiveness of sins.” they would normally faith in these words: Not everything in the worship service is essential or absolutely eat in prayer and study. “Given and shed for necessary to prepare for Communion. Neither is there any preparaWhen they feel the mild you for the forgiveness tion done outside of worship that is essential or absolutely necessary. hunger pains of the of sins.” But anyone Nonetheless Luther teaches us that fasting and bodily preparation afternoon, it reminds who does not believe are a fine outward training. St. Paul knew this. He wrote that he them to thank God for these words or doubts disciplined his body to keep it under control (1 Corinthians 9:27). all He has done for them is unworthy and Jesus seems to expect that Christians will fast. He said,“When you them in Jesus Christ. unprepared, for the fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their Many Christians will words “for you” require faces that their fasting may be seen by others.Truly, I say to you, they also fast in some small all hearts to believe. have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and way before receiving wash your face” (Matthew 6:16–17 ESV). Holy Communion. This -Luther’s Small Fasting and bodily preparation are not necessary for a worthy can be as simple as Catechism Communion. All that is necessary is faith, but fasting and bodily skipping breakfast on preparation can be helpful. Faith does not live silently in the heart. Sunday morning so “With the heart one believes and is justified, and with the that your first food of mouth one confesses and is saved” (Romans 10:10 ESV). the week is the Body Faith lives and moves and confesses. Faith rules the lips and and Blood of Jesus. the body and brings it into control. What happens to the body affects faith. Fasting before receiving Communion is meant to discipline our hungers and to remind ourselves of our frailty. What we need is not food for the stomach but food for the soul. What we need is Jesus, the bread of life, who gives Himself to us for food in the Holy Communion. Rev. David Petersen is pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and is also on the Higher Things editorial board. His e-mail address is David.H.Petersen@att.net.
