His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, in this sermon, speaks about the sacrament of Holy Communion as one of the greatest mysteries of Christian life, for it grants real union with Christ, forgiveness of sins, and eternal life. He clarifies that Communion is not just a church ritual but true life, unity, and a covenant with God.

1) The importance of Communion

• Christ Himself said: “Whoever eats My Body and drinks My Blood abides in Me and I in him,” meaning that Communion binds us to God in a living unity.

• Communion is the Bread of Life, and whoever does not partake “has no life in him,” for life comes from the Body and Blood of the Lord.

• Through Communion we abide in Christ, and Christ abides in us, for as He said: “Whoever eats Me will live by Me.”

2) Communion as a covenant and union

• Communion is a covenant with God, as the Lord said: “Whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim My death, confess My resurrection, and remember Me until I come.”

• Therefore, “Covenant Thursday” (Maundy Thursday) is called so because on that day, the Lord established this holy sacrament and entered into an everlasting covenant with His disciples.

3) Blessings of Communion

• Communion grants salvation, forgiveness of sins, and eternal life.

• It is the continuation of the sacrifice of the Cross, for we partake of the true Body and Blood of Christ.

• It renews the believer with the holy and pure nature of Christ, just as a branch is revived when grafted into a living tree.

4) Preparation for Communion

• True preparation is repentance and humility of heart. Communion without repentance is useless; as His Holiness said, “Whoever receives Communion with pride gains nothing.”

• Confession must precede Communion, for the sacrament of repentance and confession is the natural gateway to it.

• The saints revered the Eucharist deeply; one of them said: “He who partakes of the Body of Christ should be pure like the Virgin’s womb that received Him.”

5) Practical preparation for priests and believers

• The priest prays the Prayer of Preparation, saying: “I am unworthy, unprepared, and undeserving of this holy service.”

• He washes his hands as a symbol of purity and wears white vestments symbolizing holiness, like the white garments of the newly baptized.

• Likewise, the believer must have a pure, white heart and clean thoughts when approaching Communion.

6) The measure of benefit from Communion

• People benefit from Communion according to their inner readiness, just like the seeds that fall on different soils.

• The sacrament is one, but its fruits vary: “Some yield thirty, some sixty, and some a hundredfold.”

• Therefore, if one does not benefit from Communion, the fault lies in the heart, not in the sacrament itself.

Conclusion
His Holiness concludes by affirming that Communion is life with Christ and a continuous union with Him. Whoever approaches it with repentance and a prepared heart receives salvation, forgiveness, and a new life, for “the holies are for the holy.”

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