The Eucharist

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this lesson is to learn about the true presence of Christ in the sacrament of the Eucharist and the importance and blessing of partaking of the Holy Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.

HOOK & INTRODUCTION - 10 Minutes

Have you ever climbed to the top of a mountain or hill? When you get to the top, how do you feel? (Give children a chance to respond).

It's always a beautiful and amazing experience You can think of participating in the Liturgy like climbing a huge mountain. Receiving the Eucharist, or partaking in Communion, is the top of the mountain. It is the pinnacle of the Liturgy when God feeds us the ultimate food for the soul.

Christ gave us the gift of the Eucharist to help us live a holy life, grow in virtue, and become the best version of ourselves as Christians.

Since the beginning of creation, God had a master plan for us. He knew man would sin and fall and He made a plan for the salvation of mankind and prepared the world for the incarnation of His Son. (Note: make sure children understand the basic definition of salvation and incarnation).

The Lord wanted us to be united with Him. He made this possible by allowing us to partake of His very own Body and Blood, just as He told His disciples on the last night before His crucifixion in the last supper. Does anyone remember what Jesus said to the disciples the night of the last supper? (Give children a chance to respond).

Take, eat; this is My body.' Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, 'Drink from it all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins'" (Mt 26:26-28).

'Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.' In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.' For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes" (1 Cor 11:23-26)

So, Christ provided us with the gift of the Eucharist so that we can live eternally with Him

HOLY SCRIPTURE - 5 Minutes

Memory Verse
"I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever and the bread that I shall give is My flesh"
John 6:51

CONTENT (KEY POINTS) - 10 Minutes

Eucharist (Eucharistia) means thanksgiving

"For we are members of His body of His flesh and of His bones" Eph 5:30. Something we must be very thankful for.

The Eucharist is the true body and blood of Christ.

Christ Himself spoke about this to all during His ministry to the Jews and with His disciples. The Jews "quarreled among themselves saying 'How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?'" (Jn 6:52).
The disciples themselves said, "This is a hard saying; who can understand it?" (Jn 6:60). The Lord Jesus emphasized His real presence in the Sacrament.

References to the Eucharist in the Old Testament (optional)

The offering of Melchizedek-- "Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High" (Gen 14:18).
The Passover lamb-"For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us" (1 Cor 5:7)
The manna that the children of Israel ate in the wilderness of Sinai for forty years
The Lord Christ said, "This is the bread which came down from heaven -- not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever" (Jn 6:58) -- "I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever and the bread that I shall give is My flesh" (Jn 6:51)

Transformation During the Liturgy

During the Liturgy-during the invocation of the Holy Spirit (Epiclesis) at the point when the deacon says, "worship God in fear and trembling" -the Holy Spirit comes and transforms the bread and wine into the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
St. John of Damascus says, "And now you ask how the bread becomes the body of Christ, and the wine and the water become the blood of Christ. I shall tell you. The Holy Spirit comes upon them, and achieves things which surpass every word and thought ... Let it be enough for you to understand that this takes place by the Holy Spirit".

Benefits of the Eucharist

Given for our salvation, remission of sins and eternal life to those who partake of Him as Abouna says in the liturgy based on the scripture
"Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." Jn 6:54
"He who eats this bread will live forever" Jn 6:58
Purification of souls, bodies and spirits
Abiding in Christ: "He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him" Jn 6:56)
Growth and Maintenance of our spiritual life: "unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you." (Jn 6 53). "He who feeds on me will live because of Me" (Jn 6: 57)
Unification of Believers: "For we, being many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread" (1 Cor 10:17)
Taking it worthily/prepared
- Taking communion unworthily-can lead to condemnation
- Most important part of being "worthy" is knowing that we are not worthy
- Belief in the true Body and Blood in the mystery of the Eucharist
- Reconciliation with others
- Regular confession and repentance
- Physical preparation with fasting and cleanliness

LIFE APPLICATION - 5 Minutes

Why is the sacrament of the Eucharist so important to us in our everyday lives?

We are united with Christ as we partake in His Body and Blood
Communion helps us grow spiritually and live eternally with Christ
We can not be the best version of ourselves, as Christians, without receiving Christ through the Eucharist

CONCLUSION - 5 Minutes

The Eucharist is the crown of the sacraments. In it, we fulfill the commandment of our Lord Jesus Christ and we partake of His true body and blood through the work of the Holy Spirit in the Liturgy.

It is a sacrament that should be taken regularly for growth and strength but with great care in Spiritual and physical preparation.

ACTIVITY - 5 Minutes

Review the Prayers Before and After Communion. Use the attached fill-in worksheet.

RESOURCES

Eucharist powerpoint presentation
Priesthood by Pope Shenouda - Section on the Eucharist
Catechism of the Coptic Orthodox Church, the Seven Sacraments (Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty)

Joy in the Liturgy

PARENTS CORNER/HOMEWORK

Discuss with your child the sacraments of the church. Discuss with them the importance of the Holy Communion as our spiritual food.