How can bodily eating and drinking do such great things?
It is not the eating and drinking, indeed, that does them,
but the words, which stand here, namely: Given, and shed for you, for the
remission of sins. Which words are, beside the bodily eating and drinking, as
the chief thing in the Sacrament; and he that believes these words has what
they say and express, namely, the forgiveness of sins.
Julius
Schnoor von Carolsfeld ©WELS
Fasting and bodily preparation is, indeed, a fine outward
training; but he is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these
words: Given, and shed for you, for the remission of sins. But he that does not believe these words or doubts is
unworthy and unfit; for the words For you require altogether believing hearts.
When Christ tells us that His body was
given and His blood was shed “for the remission of our sins” He expects us to
believe this; and believing these words, we have “what they say and express
namely the forgiveness of sins”. Faith is the hand that takes what the words of
Christ here offer. Such faith is spiritual eating and drinking. We appropriate
to ourselves the blessings of the Sacrament, while with our mouths we receive
the pledge of this promise, namely, the body and blood under the bread and
wine.
O Lord, our God, in
Holy Baptism You have called us to be Christians and granted us the remission
of sins. Make us ready to receive the most holy body and blood of Christ for
the forgiveness of all our sins, and grant us grateful hearts that we may give
thanks to You, O Father, to Your Son, and to the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
forever.
Collect For the right reception of the Lord’s Supper,
Lutheran Service Book © 2008 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
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