In the Anglican Church in North America’s Book of Common Prayer (2019), the Exhortation is a specific text intended for use in preparation for Holy Communion. It is found in the section “Concerning the Holy Eucharist” and is designed to be read aloud to the congregation to encourage spiritual reflection and readiness for receiving the sacrament. It may be read any time, but is especially fitting for the first Sundays of Advent and Lent. Learn more below.
The full text of the Exhortation from the ACNA’s 2019 BCP is as follows:
Dearly beloved in the Lord: Our Savior Christ, on the night before he suffered, instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood as a sign and pledge of his love, for the continual remembrance of the sacrifice of his death, and for a spiritual sharing in his risen life. For in these holy Mysteries we are made one with Christ, and Christ with us; we are made one body in him, and members one of another.
Having in mind, therefore, his great love for us, and in obedience to his command, his Church renders to Almighty God our heavenly Father never-ending thanks for the creation of the world, for his continual providence over us, for his love for all mankind, and for the redemption of the world by our Savior Christ, who took upon himself our flesh, and humbled himself even to death on the cross, that he might make us the children of God by the power of the Holy Spirit, and exalt us to everlasting life.
But if we are to share rightly in this so great a Sacrament, and to worthily show forth the Lord’s death, we must approach the Holy Table with penitent hearts, lively faith, and sincere love for God and neighbor. I therefore call upon you to consider earnestly the greatness of this Mystery, and to examine your lives in light of God’s holy Word. Draw near in faith, repent of your sins, and be reconciled one with another; so that, receiving the pledge of our redemption in this Sacrament, we may be united to Christ our risen Lord, and filled with his grace and heavenly benediction.
To Christ our Lord who loves us, and washed us in his own blood, and made us a kingdom of priests to serve his God and Father, to him be glory in the Church evermore.
What does it mean to “examine your lives in light of God’s holy Word?”
“Examine Yourselves”: This is an active, personal process. It involves looking inward to evaluate our spiritual state. The idea echoes biblical passages like 2 Corinthians 13:5, where Paul writes, “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves.” It’s about asking questions like: Am I living in a way that honors God? Are there sins I need to confess? Am I aligned with God’s will? Paul’s warning in 1 Corinthians 11:27-30 adds urgency to this self-examination, where he states, “Whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning 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. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have fallen asleep.” Here, “fallen asleep” is a euphemism for death, underscoring the seriousness of approaching Communion without proper reverence for Christ’s body, both in the sacrament and in the unity of the church.
“In Light of God’s holy Word”: The standard for this examination isn’t our own feelings, opinions, or cultural norms; it’s the Bible, understood as God’s revealed truth. God’s Word serves as a mirror (James 1:23-25) or a lamp (Psalm 119:105) that illuminates our life, exposing both what aligns with God’s will and what falls short. It includes:
- Commands: Are we obeying God’s instructions, like loving our neighbor (Matthew 22:39) or forgiving others (Matthew 6:14-15)? Paul also connects this to specific sins, such as sexual immorality, which he addresses in 1 Corinthians 6:18-20: “Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” Failing to repent of such sins dishonors the body Christ redeemed, making it unworthy to partake in the sacrament that unites us to Him.
- Character: Are we growing in the fruits of the Spirit, like love, joy, and peace (Galatians 5:22-23), or are we clinging to attitudes like pride or bitterness?
- Promises: Are we trusting in God’s grace and redemption, or relying on our own strength?
The goal is to approach the sacrament “worthily” (not perfectly, but with sincerity), as Paul warns in 1 Corinthians 11:27-29 about partaking in an unworthy manner without discerning the Lord’s body. For Paul, this discernment includes recognizing the sanctity of the Eucharist and living in a way that reflects its significance; free from unrepentant sin, which defiles the body Christ died to redeem. It’s about ensuring our heart is right with God and others: repenting of sin, seeking reconciliation, and renewing our faith.
As fallen humans, even as the redeemed, our hearts, wills, and emotions are prone to wonder. Therefore, it would not be surprising to discover, through self-reflection, that one might not be ready to receive Communion certain weeks. This is not a matter of shame, but the mark of a discerning person. If for any reason one feels they are not able to receive Communion, he or she is still asked to come to the railing, and cross his or her arms over the chest, and the priest will pray a blessing over him or her.
Why It Matters
Examining ourselves in light of God’s Word prevents a casual or hypocritical approach to faith. Paul’s sobering observation that some have died for failing to discern Christ’s body highlights the stakes: Communion is no mere ritual but a profound participation in Christ’s sacrifice. This examination fosters humility, as we recognize our need for grace, and it deepens our connection to Christ, especially in the Eucharist, where we remember his sacrifice for our sins. It’s not about guilt-tripping ourselves but about aligning our life with God’s truth so we can live more fully as his child.
In the context of Advent and Lent, this practice fits perfectly: Advent calls us to prepare for Christ’s coming by living faithfully, and Lent urges us to repent and renew our commitment to him. God’s Word is the guide that makes this self-examination meaningful and transformative, ensuring we approach the Lord’s Table not with judgment upon ourselves, but with the reverence and purity Christ’s sacrifice demands.
Last Updated: 03/07/2025 by Charlie Vensel
What Is The Exhortation?
The full text of the Exhortation from the ACNA’s 2019 BCP is as follows:
Dearly beloved in the Lord: Our Savior Christ, on the night before he suffered, instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood as a sign and pledge of his love, for the continual remembrance of the sacrifice of his death, and for a spiritual sharing in his risen life. For in these holy Mysteries we are made one with Christ, and Christ with us; we are made one body in him, and members one of another.
Having in mind, therefore, his great love for us, and in obedience to his command, his Church renders to Almighty God our heavenly Father never-ending thanks for the creation of the world, for his continual providence over us, for his love for all mankind, and for the redemption of the world by our Savior Christ, who took upon himself our flesh, and humbled himself even to death on the cross, that he might make us the children of God by the power of the Holy Spirit, and exalt us to everlasting life.
But if we are to share rightly in this so great a Sacrament, and to worthily show forth the Lord’s death, we must approach the Holy Table with penitent hearts, lively faith, and sincere love for God and neighbor. I therefore call upon you to consider earnestly the greatness of this Mystery, and to examine your lives in light of God’s holy Word. Draw near in faith, repent of your sins, and be reconciled one with another; so that, receiving the pledge of our redemption in this Sacrament, we may be united to Christ our risen Lord, and filled with his grace and heavenly benediction.
To Christ our Lord who loves us, and washed us in his own blood, and made us a kingdom of priests to serve his God and Father, to him be glory in the Church evermore.
What does it mean to “examine your lives in light of God’s holy Word?”
“Examine Yourselves”: This is an active, personal process. It involves looking inward to evaluate our spiritual state. The idea echoes biblical passages like 2 Corinthians 13:5, where Paul writes, “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves.” It’s about asking questions like: Am I living in a way that honors God? Are there sins I need to confess? Am I aligned with God’s will? Paul’s warning in 1 Corinthians 11:27-30 adds urgency to this self-examination, where he states, “Whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning 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. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have fallen asleep.” Here, “fallen asleep” is a euphemism for death, underscoring the seriousness of approaching Communion without proper reverence for Christ’s body, both in the sacrament and in the unity of the church.
“In Light of God’s holy Word”: The standard for this examination isn’t our own feelings, opinions, or cultural norms; it’s the Bible, understood as God’s revealed truth. God’s Word serves as a mirror (James 1:23-25) or a lamp (Psalm 119:105) that illuminates our life, exposing both what aligns with God’s will and what falls short. It includes:
The goal is to approach the sacrament “worthily” (not perfectly, but with sincerity), as Paul warns in 1 Corinthians 11:27-29 about partaking in an unworthy manner without discerning the Lord’s body. For Paul, this discernment includes recognizing the sanctity of the Eucharist and living in a way that reflects its significance; free from unrepentant sin, which defiles the body Christ died to redeem. It’s about ensuring our heart is right with God and others: repenting of sin, seeking reconciliation, and renewing our faith.
As fallen humans, even as the redeemed, our hearts, wills, and emotions are prone to wonder. Therefore, it would not be surprising to discover, through self-reflection, that one might not be ready to receive Communion certain weeks. This is not a matter of shame, but the mark of a discerning person. If for any reason one feels they are not able to receive Communion, he or she is still asked to come to the railing, and cross his or her arms over the chest, and the priest will pray a blessing over him or her.
Why It Matters
Examining ourselves in light of God’s Word prevents a casual or hypocritical approach to faith. Paul’s sobering observation that some have died for failing to discern Christ’s body highlights the stakes: Communion is no mere ritual but a profound participation in Christ’s sacrifice. This examination fosters humility, as we recognize our need for grace, and it deepens our connection to Christ, especially in the Eucharist, where we remember his sacrifice for our sins. It’s not about guilt-tripping ourselves but about aligning our life with God’s truth so we can live more fully as his child.
In the context of Advent and Lent, this practice fits perfectly: Advent calls us to prepare for Christ’s coming by living faithfully, and Lent urges us to repent and renew our commitment to him. God’s Word is the guide that makes this self-examination meaningful and transformative, ensuring we approach the Lord’s Table not with judgment upon ourselves, but with the reverence and purity Christ’s sacrifice demands.
Category: Anglicanism, Liturgical Seasons Tags: Advent, Anglicanism 101, Communion, Eucharist, Lent, Preparation, The Exhortation
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