Rabbi’s Reflections – Monday, August 2, 2021 

Shalom,

Holy Communion – part 5:  “You become what you behold.”  I’m not sure who said it first, but I believe it is true.  Just ask Dorian Grey.  The antidote for Dorian Gray is revealed in Psalm 119:37 Turn my eyes away from gazing at vanity but revive me in Your ways.  Yes, don’t ask Dorian Gray, ask Paul… who will answer you with this verse.  

2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory—just as from the Lord, who is the Spirit.  

The more we behold the Lord, the more we begin to reflect His image.  When we partake of Holy Communion, we are looking into His face.  This is VERY personal, even intimate.  What could be more personal than partaking of the body and blood of the Son of God?

For this reason, Communion is often called “the meal that heals.”  As we partake, we are transformed to be like Him, and He has never been sick.   

There is a warning in Scripture against sharing in Holy Communion wrongly… 1 Corinthians 11:27 Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the Lord’s cup in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord.  What does Paul mean when he says, “In an unworthy manner?”  He tells us two things.  It involves examining yourself and we must “recognize the body.”

1 Corinthians 11:28 But a man must examine himself, and then let him eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For the one who eats and drinks without recognizing the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself.

The result is that we could get sick or even die.  1 Corinthians 11:30 For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and quite a few have died.

There is a key word that has not yet been mentioned here, “REPENT.”  “Examine yourself” is euphemistic for “repent.”  And “recognizing the body” means to understand the gravity and significance of what is happening.  In partaking of Holy Communion, we are fulfilling Yeshua’s commandment. 

John 6:53 So Yeshua said to them, “Amen, amen I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. 54 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. 55 “For My flesh is real food and My blood is real drink. 56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.”

When we hold Communion, we must fully appreciate what we have our hands on.  Take it a day at a time and bless His name as we partake. Psalm 34:4(3) Magnify Adonai with me and let us exalt His Name together.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)

Mon 2 Aug 2021 24th of Av, 5781

De 12:11-28Ez 431 Ch 23(Jn 10)2 Ti 1

Week 32
Memory Verse: Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

* 156 8/02  Monday:       Matthew 3-4

157   8/03  Tuesday:      Matthew 5

158   8/04  Wednesday: Matthew 6

159   8/05  Thursday:     Matthew 7

160   8/06  Friday:          Matthew 8