As you sip your Monday morning coffee and prepare for your week, I offer you the following prayer for reflection:
CALL TO RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNION
ՀՐԱՒԷՐ ՍՈՒՐԲ ՀԱՂՈՐԴՈՒԹԻՒՆ ՍՏԱՆԱԼՈՒ
§Երկիւղիւ եւ հաւատով յառաջ մատիք եւ սրբութեամբ հաղորդեցարուք¦։
“Yergyooghheev yev havadov harach madeek yev surpootyamp haghortetsarook.”
“In fear and in faith come forward and receive Communion in holiness.”
At the pinnacle of our Holy Badarak, we are called forward by the deacon to partake in the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by God’s grace, restore our relationship with Christ. Our current pandemic time makes it very difficult for the faithful who, due to restrictions, safety concerns and health concerns, are separated from the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. Receiving Holy Communion is at the very heart of our faith, as written in the Holy Gospel of Saint John 6:53-54, “Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.’” And though live-streaming the Divine Liturgy is certainly extremely helpful in reaching the faithful during this time, this substitute does not allow for the fulfillment of Christ’s commission in the way that partaking in Holy Communion does. Holy Communion just cannot be live-streamed or Zoomed! As God’s family, we are meant to be together, pray together, and come to the Holy Banquet of our Lord together. For it is when we worship together and receive the body and blood of Christ, we grow in mind and in spirit. May we be granted the comfort, safety, and good health to soon join together to worship, offer our confession, and partake in the Holy Mystery that is so central to our Christian faith.
In the meantime, let us remain faithful, mindful and spiritually strong, as we stand together in the face of this pandemic.
Prayerfully yours,
Father Oshagan
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