Praying the communion Antiphon series: Friday fourth week of Lent

 Praying the Communion Antiphon Series.

Praying the communion Antiphon

A Time Set Apart: Friday, Fourth Week of Lent

Redemption Through His Blood

Communion Antiphon (Ephesians 1:7)
In Christ we have redemption through his Blood,
the forgiveness of sins,
in accordance with the riches of his grace.

 

Thinking About the Words

“In Christ…”

Everything begins here. Not in ourselves. Not in our effort. But in Him.

“We have redemption…”

Redemption is a strong word.

It means:

• to be set free
• to be brought back
• to be restored at a cost

This is not a small act.

It is costly love.

“Through his Blood…”

Lent now begins to turn more clearly toward the Cross. This is not symbolic language.

It points to:

• sacrifice
• self-giving
• total love poured out

“The forgiveness of sins…”

Here is the fruit:

• not shame
• not condemnation
• but forgiveness

And notice — it is already given: “we have…”

“In accordance with the riches of his grace.”

Not a small measure. Not barely enough. But riches.

Grace is abundant, overflowing, beyond what we could earn.

 

Connection to the Gospel

Today’s Gospel (John 7) shows division and tension around Jesus.

• Some believe
• Some doubt
• Some reject

And yet, beneath all of this, the deeper truth remains:

Jesus has come to redeem.

Even those who question Him…Even those who oppose Him…

The offer of redemption still stands.

 

The Connection

The Gospel shows human confusion and resistance.

The antiphon reveals God’s response: Not withdrawal. Not condemnation.

Here God’s response is redemption, forgiveness, grace

A Lenten Insight

Lent often brings us face to face with our sin.

But this antiphon gently shifts the focus:

Not just:

• what I have done

But:

• what Christ has done for me

And more importantly:

what He is offering me now

 

A Practical Thread

When it is difficult to name our sinfulness clearly, this antiphon helps us because it tells us:

We do not begin with perfect self-understanding. We begin with:

being loved, redeemed, and forgiven. And from there, clarity grows. 

The problem many people have is that because of their circumstances they have never experienced what unconditional love is in their own life as young children. As adults, they may have chosen the same pattern or hopefully learned what unconditional love is through a spouse or valued friend.  What Jesus offers is unconditional love. When the person experiences this unconditional love, they may initially have their defences up and do not receive all the graces intended.  However, when they reach a point where they experience and believe in God’s love for them, then this opens them up to an encounter with Jesus who then becomes their best friend. They then know what it is like to be loved, to be forgiven  and to be redeemed.

 

At Communion

When we receive Communion, this becomes deeply personal:

“In Christ, I have redemption.”

This is not given later or some time in the future or not when I improve.

It is offered immediately.  It is offered now.

 

Reflection

• What does “redemption” mean in my life right now?
• Do I truly believe that forgiveness is already being offered to me?
• Where do I need to receive God’s grace more deeply?
• Am I living from guilt… or from redemption?

This Communion Antiphon has a slightly different flavour. Unlike the other communion antiphons which mainly come from the Psalms or the Gospel reading, this one comes from Ephesians.   It is less like sweetness today and more like something deep, rich, and costly 

This is the heart of where Lent is leading:

Redemption through love poured out. 

  

Prayer

Lord,
you have redeemed me through your love.
Help me to receive your forgiveness
and to live in the richness of your grace.