"For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body," says the Holy Apostle. What a dreadful thought! that by receiving Holy Communion carelessly--while not even attempting to cleanse our hearts of evil thoughts and desires--we eat and drink to our own condemnation.
Consider Judas, who was present at the Mystical Supper and dared to partake of our Lord's most precious Body and Blood even while he was plotting to betray Him. And so it behooves us all to examine ourselves carefully before approaching the holy chalice. We profess to love Christ, and like the Apostle Peter, we loudly proclaim that we would never betray Him. Yet are we not guilty time and again of betraying our Lord's love by our thoughts, words, deeds and actions?
Truly none of us are worthy to partake of our Lord's most precious Body and Blood. Nevertheless, if we sincerely repent of our sins and strive to purify our hearts of those sinful passions that separate us from God, He can make us worthy. Even Judas--though he betrayed our Lord for thirty pieces of silver--could have been saved, had he truly repented and humbly beseeched our Lord for forgiveness. Instead, he fell into despair--the unforgiveable sin--and hung himself, thereby condemning his wretched soul to hell.
Truly this is why the repentant harlots and publicans enter the Kingdom, while the self-righteous Pharisees are left outside in that place of darkness "where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Indeed... it is not the multitude of our sins that condemn us, but rather our failure to repent.
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