At this Table, we are called to meet with God. We meet with Him according to His Word, knowing that apart from faith the only thing we can accomplish is a meeting with His displeasure. All that is accomplished at this Table for blessing is accomplished through the instrumentality of faith. And when unbelief comes to the Table, that unbelief is guilty of trampling the Son of God underfoot. In hearing this warning, do not do as so many do, which is to confound tender faith with unbelief. God is far kinder to weakness than we imagine, and is far more severe with the arrogant than we can conceive.
As you come in faith, remember that you are what You eat. This short phrase has been taken by some in a crude materialistic way, and so they assume that because we eat matter we must be nothing more than matter. But we know that the world God made is not like this—far more depth is involved in all that we do, and particularly when we are nourished sacramentally.
You do become what You eat. And since we are called to grow up into a perfect man, to become restored humanity, this means that we are called to eat restored humanity. Obviously, we do not eat this restored humanity with our teeth and mouths merely—if we could do that, it would hardly be a restored and resurrected humanity, and we would be guilty of a grotesque cannibalism. But nevertheless, we do really partake of the body and blood of Jesus Christ, and faith is the true mouth, faith is the true tongue, teeth and throat. Faith sees that we are being grown up into a perfect man, and the pattern for this is the resurrected, ascended and glorified Lord of the Church.
As we partake together, fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.