Why do we receive the Lord’s Supper often?
We receive the Lord’s Supper often because of how much we need what the Lord gives in His Supper. We dare never make a law about how often an individual “should” or “must” receive the Lord’s Supper. But this is a separate question from how frequently Holy Communion is offered in our congregations. Our Lutheran Confessions make it clear that the Lord’s Supper is offered every Lord’s Day and on other days when there are communicants present (ACXXIV.34 and Ap.XXIV.1).
In saying this, our Confessions are merely reflecting the truth of the Sacred Scriptures, which place the Lord’s Supper at the center of worship (Acts 2:42; 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:20, 33), not as an appendage or an occasional extra. It is for this reason that our Synod has repeatedly encouraged our congregations to provide the opportunity for communicants who so desire to receive the Lord’s Supper every Lord’s Day.
My Lord, You here have led me within Your holiest place. And here Yourself have fed me with treasures of Your grace; forYou have freely given what earth could never buy, the bread of life from heaven, that now I shall not die.
What should we do
if we do not feel a need to receive the Lord’s Supper?
Because of our sinful human nature, we are tempted at times to think,“I don’t need to take Communion. I just don’t feel like it.” But when we feel this way, we need to realize that in the Lord’s Supper, the holy God of God, and Light of Light, very God of very God, is coming among us, under the bread and wine, to be with us, to join Himself to us, to forgive, renew and strengthen us.
In preparing to receive the Lord’s Supper, it is good for us to review, “Christian Questions with Their Answers,” on page 329 of our hymnal, Lutheran Service Book. There Luther talks about those times when we just may not “feel” like receiving the Lord’s Supper. Luther writes, “To such a person no better advice can be given than that, in the first place, he put his hand into his shirt and feel whether he still has flesh and blood, and that he by all means believe what the Scriptures say about it in Gal. 5 and Rom. 7.
“Secondly, that he look around to see whether he is still in the world, and keep in mind that there will be no lack of sin and trouble, as the Scriptures say in John 15-16 and in 1 John 2 and 5.
“Thirdly, he will certainly have the devil also about him, who with his lying and murdering, day and night, will let him have no peace within or without, as the Scriptures picture him in John 8 and 16;1Peter 5; Eph. 6; 2 Tim. 2.”
O Jesus, blessed Lord, my praise, my heartfelt thanks to You I raise. You have so lovingly bestowed on me Your body and Your blood. Break forth, my soul, in joy and say; what wealth has come me today, what health of body, mind, and soul! Christ dwells within me, makes me whole.
Conclusion
Here is how one Lutheran theologian beautifully describes the precious treasure of the Lord’s Supper:
“The Israelites were fed with manna in the wilderness as with bread from heaven (Ex. 16:15). In this Holy Supper we have the true manna which came down from heaven to give life to the world. Here is that bread of heaven, that angel’s food, of which if any man eat he shall never be hungry (John 6:35, 51).
“The children of Israel had the ark of the covenant and the mercy seat, where they could hear the Lord speaking with them face to face (Ex. 25:21, 22). Here we have the true ark of the covenant, the most holy body of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col.2:3). Here we have the true mercy seat in the precious blood of Christ (Rom. 3:25), through which God has made us accepted in the Beloved (Eph. 1:6).
“Nor does Christ simply speak the word of comfort to our souls, He also takes up His abode in us. He feeds our souls not with heavenly manna, but, what is far better, with His own blessed self. Here is the true gate of heaven for our souls, and the ladder reaching from earth to heaven on which the angels of God ascend and descend (Gen. 28:12).
“Christ holds us dear because He has bought us at so dear a price. He holds us dear because He feeds our souls with so dear and precious a food. He holds us dear because we are members of His body, of His flesh (Eph. 5:30).
“The holy flesh of God, which the angelic hosts adore in the unity of the divine nature, before which archangels bow in lowly reverence, and before which the principalities and powers of heaven tremble and stand in awe, has become the nourishment for our souls. Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad (Ps. 96:11), but still more let the believing soul exult and sing for joy, to whom God gives such an unspeakable gift!”
O Lord, we praise you, bless you, and adore you,
in thanksgiving bow before you.
Here with your body and your blood you nourish
our weak souls that they may flourish.
O Lord, have mercy!
Dr. A.L. Barry’s “What About the Sacrament of the Altar?”
† A Prayer Before Holy Communion †
Heavenly Father, I confess that I have sinned and deserved only Your wrath, but I flee to Your mercy in Christ Jesus, my Lord, who gave His body and blood for my redemption. I believe that Jesus Christ has redeemed me from all my sins, and I desire forgiveness in His name. I intend with the help of the Holy Spirit to live as in Your presence, and to strive daily to lead a holy life, even as Christ has made me holy. Lord, grant that I may ever thus believe and never waver. Grant that in such faith I may worthily go to Your altar to receive the very body and the true blood which Your Son has given for my salvation, that I may truly praise, laud, and honour Your love and Your mercy all the days of my life. Hear me for the sake of Jesus Christ, Your Son, my Redeemer and Saviour. Amen.
† A Prayer After Holy Communion †
O Lord Jesus, my Saviour and only Refuge, I give You hearty thanks that You have so graciously refreshed me with Your sacred body and blood, and I pray that through this Holy Supper You would strengthen me in faith toward You, in love toward others, in patience under trials, and in the blessed hope of everlasting life. Uphold me daily with Your grace and strengthen me by Your power. Into Your hands I commit my body and soul, in life and in death. Grant that, when my last hour comes, I may fall asleep in firm faith in You and Your sacred blood. Amen.
Trinity Lutheran Church 
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