(SOC-NASA) – What Holy Communion means to the spiritual life of
a Christian is described in the words of our Lord: “I am the
living Bread which came down from Heaven. If anyone eats of this
bread, he will live forever… 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. For my flesh is food indeed, and
my blood is drink indeed.” With deep faith in these words of the
Lord, the early Christians anxiously approached Holy Communion,
not because of some requirement, but from an immediate awareness
that there was no spiritual life without Him. Just as one is not
ordered to breathe, but spontaneously knows that without air he
would suffocate and die. The early Christians attended all the
Sunday and Holiday liturgies and at the Deacon’s invitation –
with the fear of God and with faith, draw near, all the faithful
lined up and received Holy Communion. They were convinced that
they w