Communion of the Sick - Part 3

Bishop Eric Menees

Dear friends, I pray you’re all doing well and staying healthy as we continue our examination of the 2019 BCP’s Rite of Communion of the Sick.  Last week we covered the confession and absolution, this week we finish this study by looking at the last third of the service, including the peace, the Lord’s Prayer, the Agnus Dei, the distribution of the Eucharist, and a post-communion prayer. It’s important to look at all of these parts at the end of Communion of the Sick not just as individual components, but as a whole. Many Christians see this service as simply bringing the Eucharist to someone to let them know they’re remembered, but this ministry is far from that.

Minister        The peace of the Lord be always with you. People           And with your spirit. Minister        Let us pray. Minister and People Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,    for ever and ever. Amen.

The peace and the Lord’s Prayer are reminders that the person who is sick isn’t just an individual, they’re receiving the Sacrament as part of the larger body of Christ, the Church. The person bringing the Sacrament to them isn’t just a delivery person, they are an extension of the Body of Christ reaching out to and including the sick brother or sister.

Then may be said Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; grant us your peace. The minister may say The Gifts of God for the People of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving. The Sacrament is then distributed with the following words The Body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given for you, preserve your body and soul to everlasting life. The Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed for you, preserve your body and soul to everlasting life.

Having acknowledged that the sick person receiving Communion is receiving it as part of that one body, the Agnus Dei and the words of distribution drive home the importance of what is being received. This isn’t just a nicety; this member of the Body of Christ is receiving the Body and/or Blood of Christ.  They are receiving what St. Ignatius called “the medicine of immortality” that preserves their body and soul to everlasting life. While we may be concerned about our physical or emotional health during times of illness, this is a reminder of our need for Christ with us if we want to truly have life.

After Communion, the Minister says Almighty and everliving God, we thank you for feeding us, in these holy mysteries, with the spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; and for assuring us, through this Sacrament, of your favor and goodness towards us: that we are true members of the mystical body of your Son, the blessed company of all faithful people; and are also heirs, through hope, of your everlasting kingdom. And we humbly ask you, heavenly Father, to assist us with your grace, that we may continue in that holy fellowship, and do all the good works that you have prepared for us to walk in; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen. A Priest gives this blessing The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always. Amen. A Deacon or lay person says the following The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen.     2 Corinthians 13:14 Minister        Let us bless the Lord. People            Thanks be to God.

Last but not least, this section is a reminder of why the person is receiving the Eucharist. As an older Eucharistic prayer used to say, “Deliver us from the presumption of coming to this Table for solace only, and not for strength; for pardon only, and not for renewal.” The Eucharist isn’t given so the person can receive this grace and keep it to themselves, they’re supposed to share it. It doesn’t have to be large acts in the community, if someone is sick or even in a hospital they can show their love as Christians in the way they interact with the people around them, such as staff, family, or other visitors. Even in sickness the Eucharist isn’t for solace only but also for strength, to grow in love towards not only God but our neighbor as well. This is the end of our examination of Communion of the Sick, next week in light of the holiday we’ll discuss thanksgiving. I want to close this study of Communion of the Sick with a prayer “In Time of Great Sickness and Mortality” from the 1928 Book of Common Prayer:

O Most mighty and merciful God, in this time of grievous sickness, we flee to you for comfort. Deliver us, we beseech you, from our peril; give strength and skill to all those who minister to the sick; prosper the means made use of for their cure; and grant that, perceiving how frail and uncertain our life is, we may apply our hearts unto that heavenly wisdom which leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

I hope you all have a blessed Feast of Christ the King this Sunday!