An energy booster on the way to eternal life

“Then Jesus said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”—Such was the Bible text from John 6: 53-54 upon which Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider based his sermon in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast on 12 January 2016.

Holy Communion as a source of strength

“The Holy Spirit is with us always,” said the Chief Apostle. “This is something we can experience in daily life whenever we pray, when we read the Bible, and when we reflect on our faith.” A personal encounter with Jesus Christ, however, must be found elsewhere, he pointed out: “It is only in Holy Communion that we can experience this intimate and deep fellowship with the Lord Jesus.”

“It is the bread of heaven,” he said, comparing Holy Communion with the manna that sustained the people of Israel during their desert wanderings: “In this manna, they found the strength to survive, to make progress, and to conquer their enemies.” He went on to say, “In Holy Communion, the Lord gives us the strength to preserve the divine life within us, to make our way toward the goal of our faith, and to resist the Devil.”

Holy Communion as a meal of profession

“Each time the congregation assembles in order to celebrate Holy Communion, it professes its belief,” emphasized Chief Apostle Schneider, before going on to list and explain five central aspects of this belief:

• the sacrifice: “We believe that Jesus loves us so much that He gave His life for us.”
• the resurrection: “The congregation that celebrates Holy Communion professes its belief in the victory of Christ.”
• the return: “If we bear this divine life within us, we will also cultivate the hope that Jesus will come soon!”
• the present: “When we celebrate Holy Communion, Jesus is present in the midst of the congregation. Jesus is active within His church.”
• the Apostles: “He gave the commission to celebrate Holy Communion to living Apostles. It is only where living Apostles are at work that the body and blood of Jesus are truly present. That is our belief.”

“Those who partake in Holy Communion—that is, those who celebrate it in faith and gratitude—will truly receive the body and blood of Jesus, and will be able to resemble Him more and more closely,” said the Chief Apostle. “Just remember: as was the case with the manna, we must take advantage of Holy Communion whenever Jesus offers it.”