Santa ceia
A Santa Ceia é uma das ordenanças mais sagradas da igreja cristã. Instituída por Jesus na última noite antes da crucificação, ela celebra seu sacrifício e proclama sua morte até que Ele volte.
A instituição por Jesus
Na noite em que foi traído, Jesus tomou o pão e o cálice, deu graças e os compartilhou com os discípulos, dizendo: 'Fazei isto em memória de mim.'
Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is my body."And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you,for this is my blood of thecovenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, "Take; this is my body."And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And he said to them, "This is my blood of thecovenant, which is poured out for many.Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."
And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me."And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
O significado espiritual
A Ceia é participação no corpo e no sangue de Cristo. Jesus ensinou que quem come de sua carne e bebe de seu sangue tem a vida eterna.
I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh."
So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me.This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the breadthe fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever."
and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body, which is foryou. Do this in remembrance of me."In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
A prática da Igreja
Desde os primeiros cristãos, a Ceia do Senhor é parte fundamental da vida comunitária da Igreja, celebrada com reverência e exame de consciência.
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight.
When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them.
Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.