Loaves - Fr. Michael Margitich

Glory be to Jesus Christ. Glory forever. I'd

like to invite you to come forward. In the name

of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

And the Holy Spirit. Amen. This morning's topic

is on the Holy Eucharist, on communion. And it's

based on what you just heard, that marvelous

gospel taken from the 14th chapter of St. Matthew.

I must say at the beginning that it's important

to note that out of the 30 plus miracles that

our Lord Jesus Christ performed, out of the 30,

only one, the one that you heard in the gospel

today, and Matthew said 5 ,000 beside men, beside

women and children is found in all four Gospels.

The miracle we are celebrating today is not in

some historical sense. But if in fact a miracle

which we are blessed today to participate in.

The church from the very first days had stressed

the significance of this event. Because it is

Extreme importance. In terms of our spiritual

understanding. Our health and our strength. In

understanding the implications and importance

of this particular miracle. From the very first

days again I repeat. This passage which we heard.

Is also referred to as the multiplication of

bread. Is but a preview. It points to. It's a

foreshadowing of. The Holy Eucharist. That Christ

himself established. On Holy Thursday. Notice

that. What generally is conceived. And understood.

He fed five thousand. With five breads. And two

fish. And the very first. Passage. We read. Is

our Lord. Was moved with compassion. Toward them.

And the disciples. Suggested to Christ. That

Lord. They followed you all this way. The night.

Is about to fall. Send them away. So they could

find something to eat. And I could imagine. If

I were one of the disciples, I'd say, say what,

Lord? We have no such things. It's an impossible

task. It's beyond our capability to feed 5 ,000

people. But then one of them said, well, we have

five breads and two fish. That tells me that.

In the hands of the Lord. Even the smallest gift.

Will be multiplied. Beyond our understanding.

And he blessed the bread. Gave it to his disciples.

So that they could distribute it. And after all

had eaten. There were 12 baskets left over. Talk

about. Passion, glory, and blessing of the Lord.

There is something in this event that is beyond

and far more important and enriching than simply

satisfying the physical needs of our body. That

is why this particular event the Fathers tell

us is but a foreshadowing of the event of Holy

Thursday. One of the most more obvious things

that we in our society have accepted. And essentially

it is this. Things are just things. No, says

the scriptures. No. Things are not just things.

The world is God's creation. And exists as a

means of our communion with him. You know for

the secular world God is opaque. He can't be

found. He's obscured. Or better to say he has

been dismissed. But the world is but a sacrament.

The world is an icon of God's creation. The final

words the priest prays as the body is being lowered

into the earth is this. The earth is the Lord's

and the fullness thereof. All is His. And I want

to digress just a moment to point out the illustration

that I find very revealing. You know, a few weeks

ago we had a wedding. And the bride was a little

bit late. And so people were coming in. the church

and going out. And I noticed one individual came

in and then a few moments later he came out.

He says, I need some fresh air. But he said,

you know, I'm impressed with your auditorium.

I said, what, are you talking about the church

hall? No, he said, this auditorium. This is not

an auditorium, sir. This is the church. In an

auditorium. People meet people. But in church

you meet Christ. That's a good concept. During

the liturgy. Do we not sing. Holy. Holy. Holy.

Heaven and earth. Are full of thy glory. So my

dear people. I want to underscore the fact. We

do not live in a world of matter. We live in

a world. Which is filled with holy matter. And

with holy things. Because God has created them.

And in the very first chapter. He said. As we

read. It's good. It is often said, man is what

he eats. That's a cliche, I know it is. But there

is a profound spiritual truth involved in that.

Listen to what Jesus said as he spoke to his

disciples in the sixth chapter of St. John. And

the living bread that came down from heaven.

The living bread that came down from heaven.

If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.

And the bread which I will give to the world

is my flesh. So we are dealing here. With a miracle.

A miracle of God's love and grace. That he has

brought us together. Not to simply greet one

another. Which is a wonderful blessing. But to

participate in his life. The life that he has

come to share with us. Listen to what Saint Ambrose

had to say about communion. When the body of

Christ is placed on the lips of the believer,

it is truly a kiss given by Christ to the soul.

And then he continues by saying, it's like a

nuptial union, the believer and the Lord. How

graphic, how intense. It's like a nuptial union.

Communion is the greatest, the most intimate

encounter with the Lord of life. It is encounter

with heaven and earth. It's the mystery, a mystery

which is beyond our understanding, but a mystery

of God's presence and yet his transcendence.

His glory and his humility. It is for this reason

that Jesus said before he left his disciples

and ascended into heaven, I am with you always

until the end of time. He is with us. He graciously

consents to give us himself. It is a moment,

the greatest moment, and this is not an exaggeration,

but the greatest moment that you and I will ever

encounter and experience in this world, as long

as we live. That's why it's so important to receive

communion. Is the most enriching. The most transfiguring

moment. We could experience on this side of the

grave. I can't say it any more clear. In this

context. And I noticed in the bulletin. Father

alluded to this. In this context, my dear people,

I think it's necessary for me to say, unlike

what non -Orthodox preachers and teachers say,

communion is not a symbol. It's not some historical

memorial. And it's not some sentimental expression

of fellowship. It is, I believe, O Lord, and

I confess that this is indeed thy most pure body

and thy precious blood. That's why we do not

participate in that communion with others, nor...

Do we have open communion? St. Ignatius of Antioch,

in the very first century, called the Eucharist

the medicine of immortality and the antidote

against death. This sacrament and why Father

Lawrence keeps mentioning that you should stay

to listen to the prayers after liturgy. And I

know I'm probably the greatest violator in talking.

But you know, I'm so glad to see others. But

I guess I have to kind of discipline myself.

But communion is not the work of any human effort,

nor can it be. But it's the sanctifying and transforming

work of the Holy Spirit. During the course of

the liturgy, the celebrant prays. Make this bread

to be the precious body of Christ. And the congregation

responds. And make this, that which is in child's,

to be the precious blood of thy Christ. And the

congregation responds. And then he says, by the

power. By the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Not once but three times. Yea Lord. Absolutely

so be it. And Saint John of Damascus. Wrote these

words. The bread of communion. Is not mere bread.

But bread. United. With divinity. The wonder

of the sacrament. The purpose of the communion.

The effects of the Eucharist. Brings about. A

change. That again I say at the expense of being

repetitious. Is beyond our understanding. And

beyond our description. And in the latter part

of the liturgy, we pray that Christ, our Pascha,

Pascha meaning Passover of our Lord, the power

and wisdom of God will grant us to partake more

perfectly in the never -ending day of his kingdom.

where the voice of those that feast is unending,

and the delight of those that behold his inexpressible

beauty is beyond telling. Amen.