1. Preparing for Communion

2. Introduction
How can we prepare ourselves to partake the Holy Body and the Sacred Blood?
Memory Verse: “For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body” (1 Corinthians 11:29).

3. Before Taking Communion, It is Important to Know:
1- True Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ: believing in the change of the bread into the Body of Christ, and of the wine into the Precious Blood of Christ, and that the Communion is the actual Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus.
2- Repentance: repenting and confessing regularly with their father of confession (Self-examination)
As St. Paul says, “Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that Bread and drink of that Cup” (1 Corinthians 11:24).

4. Before Taking Communion, It is Important to Know:
3- Reconciliation with Others: must be first reconciled with others
“Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5:23-24).

5. Before Taking Communion, It is Important to Know:
4- Worthiness is Feeling Unworthy and Sinful: approaching the sacrament feeling the need and being grateful to God Who has made us worthy to partake of it.
“For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this” (1 Corinthians 4:4).

6. Before Taking Communion, It is Important to Know:
5- Cleanness of Body and Clothing: Respectable clothes should be worn
6- Period of Abstaining from Food: No eating or drinking for nine hours before communion.
7- Going to Church Early: Attending the Readings (Epistles, Acts, Psalm, and Gospel)
“I love those who love me, And those who seek me diligently will find me” (Proverbs 8:17).

7. Conclusion
May God help us to be ready and worthy always to partake of the Divine Mysteries, so that we may abide in Christ, and He may abide in us, so that we may be granted the gift of Eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven.

8. Questions for Reflection
1. Do we do enough self-examination and try to find what can draw us away from God?
2. Do we realize how God is an awesome, loving, and forgiving God?
3. Do we appreciate the blessings of communion and being able to look at the Holy Body and the Sacred Blood that the Cherubim and the Seraphim can’t even look at?

9. Application
1. Ask yourself if you come to church because it’s Sunday or because you want to spend time with the Lord who loves you unconditionally.
2. Be humble and always ask God to cleanse your heart and accept your prayers and repentance.
3. After taking communion, remember to keep your tongue, heart, thoughts, and body clean and pure because it’s God’s temple and don’t upset the Holy Spirit that’s dwelling in you.