The Eucharist as our ‘categorical imperative’ (1 Corinthians 11:12-34)

But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread, and drink of the cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.’ (1 Cor 11:28-29)

Life would be so easy the community and wider culture in which we live if we daily communicants. Culture has its built in ‘safety moral belt’. If on Sundays, the children of our age managed to receive the Communion as part of their examined life – we would live in a much better age.

Here, in London, knife crime is soaring. There is not a single week without a headline for murder. Sin (selfishness and greed) is soaring. Yet, the medicine is so close. To use Jesus’ words, literally, ‘close at hands’. As close as the chalice with the communion wine, and the communion bread can be. If only, as individuals, we would not miss this school of purification – for the sake of the common good. And for our individual salvation, and remaining ‘morally alive’. Receiving the Eucharist means examined life.
 
29.01.2020