THIRD WEEK. Sunday. HOLY COMMUNION. TEXT: PHIL. IV. 13. 'I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me.' GOD bids us be His faithful servants and do His will, but He does not leave us without help. Of ourselves we have no power to do what is right. Again and again we find that to will is present with us, but how to perform that which is good we know not. F Let us now think over some of the different ways in which God gives us help and strength to do His work. To-day we will consider one of His greatest, most blessed means of gracethe Holy Communion. As our daily food strengthens our earthly bodies, so this heavenly food has the power to strengthen our souls. Shall we refuse it? Should we not, in so doing, be like a starving man, who should refuse to feast in plenty? Do not think because you cannot understand the whole mystery of it, that you may not dare to come to the Lord's table. You cannot understand how your daily food nourishes and strengthens your earthly body, though you believe it and feel it to be true. How then should you be able to understand how God causes this heavenly food to nourish your soul and make it grow in grace? Come in faith, reverently, humbly, penitently; come as the Prayer - Book bids you, and feed on Him in your heart by faith with thanksgiving; thus shall you be a partaker of His promised benefits-the strengthening and refreshing of your souls by the Body and Blood of Christ, as your bodies are by the bread and wine. PRAYER. Feed me, O God, I beseech Thee, with the Bread of Life, that my soul being strengthened and refreshed thereby I may daily grow in grace and in the knowledge of Thee. Teach me to remember that of my own self I can do nothing, but with Thy help I can do all things. May I ever turn to Thee in prayer, and in Thy blessed Sacrament for help and strength, and thus all my fresh springs shall be in Thee. Arm me with power to fight against the world, the flesh, and the devil; and when my soul is faint within me, do Thou raise me up again by Thy grace. Hear this my prayer, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. |