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The
Sacrament of the Altar
What
is the Sacrament of the Altar?
It
is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread
and wine, instituted by Christ Himself for us Christians to eat and
to drink.
Where
is this written?
The
holy Evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke, and St. Paul write:
Our
Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread,
and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the
disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My body, which is given
for you. This do in remembrance of Me.”
In
the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had
given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of
you; this cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you
for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in
remembrance of Me.”
What
is the benefit of this eating and drinking?
These
words, “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of
sins,” show us that in the Sacrament forgiveness of sins, life,
and salvation are given us through these words. For where there is
forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation.
How
can bodily eating and drinking do such great things?
Certainly
not just eating and drinking do these things, but the words written
here: “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.”
These words, along with the bodily eating and drinking, are the main
thing in the Sacrament. Whoever believes these words has exactly what
they say: “forgiveness of sins.”
Who
receives this sacrament worthily?
Fasting
and bodily preparation are certainly fine outward training. But that
person is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these
words: “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.”
But anyone who does not believe these words or doubts them is
unworthy and unprepared, for the words “for you” require
all hearts to believe. |
