1 Cor. 11:23-26

Institution of the Lord's Supper

23For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." 25In 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." 26For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.

1. How and when did St Paul receive the rite of the Eucharist?

St. Paul received the rite of the Eucharist from the Lord Himself. St. Paul had numerous visions and revelations from the Lord personally. The Eucharist was the reason of one of them. This signifies the great importance of the Eucharist in the mind of Christ, i.e. He would personally deliver it to St. Paul in a vision after His ascension.

2. What is the significance of “the night in which He was betrayed”? What is the link between the night He was “betrayed” and “not discerning”?

Our Lord was betrayed by Judas, who did not discern His true identity because he did not believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. He took Him to be an ordinary man, or maybe a prophet with special gifts. Then he discovered what he had done after the betrayal, leading to his committing suicide. He became an example of those who do not discern the Lord’s body and blood.

3. What is the significance of “as often as”?

This phrase points to the frequency, with which one should participate in the Eucharist. It should be done on a regular basis. In the book of Acts we notice that it was done on the “day of the Lord.”