Brief Summary
Partaking in Holy Communion should transcend mere obligation; it should not be viewed as a formal requirement imposed by parents or clergy. Instead, our souls should leap with joy at the opportunity to commune, to be united with our God, yet tempered with a sense of contrition for our sinful nature. This acknowledgment of our sinfulness, coupled with the understanding that communion with Christ purifies and fortifies the soul, aids us in gradually conforming more closely to His likeness.
Merely attending church for the enjoyment of music and fellowship, while abstaining from participation in the Eucharist, constitutes a tangible rebuff of God. True love for God and the aspiration to emulate Him manifest in an Orthodox lifestyle encompassing daily prayer, fasting, adherence to His teachings, and repentance upon faltering. Such a life of devotion prepares us for the reception of the Holy Spirit's guidance. Embracing this way of life cultivates an awareness that in the Eucharist, God Himself is presented to us—His true Body and Blood.
This recognition should dispel any hesitation to partake in communion with Him who lives us unconditionally.
Saint Symeon exhorts us not to trivialize this sacrament as a casual or obligatory act but to approach it as a genuine encounter with God.
Link for PDF on Slides used
See session 5 on https://www.stgeorgegreenville.org/our-faith/theosis
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