"Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord."
Who receives this sacrament worthily? [Second Grade +]
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.
Jerusalem the golden, With milk and honey blest–
The promise of salvation, The place of peace and rest–
We know not, oh, we know not What joys await us there:
The radiance of glory, The bliss beyond compare!
1 Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord from the heavens;
praise him in the heights above.
2 Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his heavenly hosts.
3 Praise him, sun and moon;
praise him, all you shining stars.
4 Praise him, you highest heavens
and you waters above the skies.
5 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for at his command they were created,
6 and he established them for ever and ever—
he issued a decree that will never pass away.
7 Praise the Lord from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,
8 lightning and hail, snow and clouds,
stormy winds that do his bidding,
9 you mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars,
10 wild animals and all cattle,
small creatures and flying birds,
11 kings of the earth and all nations,
you princes and all rulers on earth,
12 young men and women,
old men and children.
13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted;
his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.
14 And he has raised up for his people a horn,
the praise of all his faithful servants,
of Israel, the people close to his heart.
Praise the Lord.
* Adopted from Bible Stories for Daily Prayer, Copyright © 2006 Concordia Catechetical Academy, Sussex, Wisconsin.
Saturday: Look Ahead to Sunday – Sixth Sunday of Easter – John 16:12-33
"I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of world is my flesh."
How can bodily eating and drinking do such great things? [Second Grade +]
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.
The King of love my shepherd is,
Whose goodness fail-eth never;
I nothing lack if I am His
And He is mine forever.
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
3 He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely[d] goodness and mercy[e] shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
* Adopted from Bible Stories for Daily Prayer, Copyright © 2006 Concordia Catechetical Academy, Sussex, Wisconsin.
Saturday: Look Ahead to Sunday – Fifth Sunday of Easter – John 16:12-22
"Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day."
Where is this written? [Second Grade +] (cont’d)
"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? [First Grade +]
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.
This joyful Easter tide
Away with sin and sorrow!
My love, the crucified,
Has sprung to life this morrow:
Had Christ, who once was slain,
Not burst His three-day prison,
Our faith had been in vain:
But now has Christ arisen, arisen, arisen;
But now has Christ arisen!
1 I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up
and have not let my foes rejoice over me.
2 O Lord my God, I cried to you for help,
and you have healed me.
3 O Lord, you have brought up my soul from Sheol;
you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.
4 Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints,
and give thanks to his holy name.
5 For his anger is but for a moment,
and his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may tarry for the night,
but joy comes with the morning.
6 As for me, I said in my prosperity,
“I shall never be moved.”
7 By your favor, O Lord,
you made my mountain stand strong;
you hid your face;
I was dismayed.
8 To you, O Lord, I cry,
and to the Lord I plead for mercy:
9 “What profit is there in my death,
if I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise you?
Will it tell of your faithfulness?
10 Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me!
O Lord, be my helper!”
11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
you have loosed my sackcloth
and clothed me with gladness,
12 that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!
* Adopted from Bible Stories for Daily Prayer, Copyright © 2006 Concordia Catechetical Academy, Sussex, Wisconsin.
Saturday: Look Ahead to Sunday – Fourth Sunday of Easter – John 10:22-30
"And all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ."
Catechism Memory Work –The Sacrament of the Altar
Where is the Sacrament of the Altar? [First Grade +]
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? [Second Grade +]
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.”
Church of God, elect and glorious, Holy nation, chosen race;
Called as God’s own special people, Royal priests and heirs of grace:
Know the purpose of your calling, Show to all His mighty deeds;
Tell of love that knows no limits, Grace that meets all human needs.
1 Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
praise him in the heights!
2 Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his hosts!
3 Praise him, sun and moon,
praise him, all you shining stars!
4 Praise him, you highest heavens,
and you waters above the heavens!
5 Let them praise the name of the Lord!
For he commanded and they were created.
6 And he established them forever and ever;
he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.
7 Praise the Lord from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all deeps,
8 fire and hail, snow and mist,
stormy wind fulfilling his word!
9 Mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars!
10 Beasts and all livestock,
creeping things and flying birds!
11 Kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all rulers of the earth!
12 Young men and maidens together,
old men and children!
13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted;
his majesty is above earth and heaven.
14 He has raised up a horn for his people,
praise for all his saints,
for the people of Israel who are near to him.
Praise the Lord!
* Adopted from Bible Stories for Daily Prayer, Copyright © 2006 Concordia Catechetical Academy, Sussex, Wisconsin.
Saturday: Look Ahead to Sunday – Third Sunday of Easter – John 21:1-14