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.'
And while they supped, Jesus took bread, and blessed [it], and brake, and gave to his disciples, and said, Take ye, and eat; this is my body.
And he took the cup, and did thankings, and gave to them, and said, Drink ye all thereof;
this is my blood of the new testament, which shall be shed for many, into remission of sins.
And while they ate, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake [it], and gave to them, and said, Take ye; this is my body.
And when he had taken the cup, he did thankings, and gave to them, and all drank thereof.
And he said to them, This is my blood of the new testament, which shall be shed for many.
Truly I say to you, for now I shall not drink of this fruit of the vine, into that day when I shall drink it new in the realm of God.
And when he had taken bread, he did thankings [or graces], and brake, and gave to them, and said, This is my body, that shall be given for you; do ye this thing in mind of me [or into my commemoration].
He took also the cup [or the chalice], after that he had supped, and said, This cup is the new testament in my blood, that shall be shed for you.
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 living bread, that came down from heaven. If any man eat of this bread, he shall live without end. And the bread that I shall give, is my flesh for the life of the world.
Therefore Jesus saith to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, but ye eat the flesh of man’s Son, and drink his blood, ye shall not have life in you.
He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath everlasting life, and I shall again-raise him in the last day.
For my flesh is very meat, and my blood is very drink.
He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
As my Father living sent me, and I live for the Father, and he that eateth me, he shall live for me.
This is bread, that came down from heaven. Not as your fathers ate manna, and be dead; he that eateth this bread, shall live without end.
and did thankings [or graces], and brake, and said, Take ye, and eat ye; this is my body, which shall be betrayed for you; do ye this thing into my mind.
Also [he took] the cup, after that he had supped, and said, This cup is the new testament in my blood; do ye this thing, as oft as ye shall drink [it], into my mind.
For as oft as ye shall eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye shall tell [or show] the death of the Lord, till that he come [or till he come].
Therefore whoever eateth the bread, or drinketh the cup of the Lord unworthily, he shall be guilty of the body and of the blood of the Lord.
But prove a man himself, and so eat he of that bread, and drink he of the cup.
For as oft as ye shall eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye shall tell [or show] the death of the Lord, till that he come [or till he come].
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] were lasting stably in the teaching of the apostles, and in communing of the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
And in the first day of the week, when we came to break bread, Paul disputed with them, and should go forth in the morrow; and he drew along the sermon till into midnight.
And it was done, while he sat at the meat with them, he took bread, and blessed, and brake, and took [or gave] to them.
Therefore whoever eateth the bread, or drinketh the cup of the Lord unworthily, he shall be guilty of the body and of the blood of the Lord.
But prove a man himself, and so eat he of that bread, and drink he of the cup.
For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh doom, [or damnation], to him[self], not wisely deeming the body of the Lord.