'Ye that do truly and earnestly repent': Penitence and the Prayer Book

Ye that do truly and earnestly repent you of your sins, and are in love and charity with your neighbours, and intend to lead a new life, following the commandments of God, and walking from henceforth in his holy ways ...

As we approach the holy Sacrament, we are again reminded - as in the Litany - that we are called to "true repentance". Not passing regret. Not momentary guilt. Rather, we are to "truly and earnestly repent". In the words of the Catechism, answering "What is required of them who come to the Lord's Supper?": "To examine themselves, whether they repent them truly of their former sins, stedfastly purposing to lead a new life".

and are in love and charity with your neighbours ...

It is a beautiful, evocative Prayer Book phrase. The repetition of "love and charity" emphasises what must be the nature of our relationships, rooted in Our Lord's summary of the Law.  As for the first exhortation in the Holy Communion declares, this "love and charity" is to be practically expressed: "And if ye shall perceive your offences to be such as are not only against God, but also against your neighbours; then ye shall reconcile yourselves unto them; being ready to make restitution and satisfaction, according to the uttermost of your powers, for all injuries and wrongs done by you to any other; and being likewise ready to forgive others that have offended you, as you would have forgiveness of your offences at God's hand". 

The word "neighbours" is also significant. Contemporary Anglican eucharistic liturgies have no mention of "neighbours". They might, at times, refer to "all people". Such an abstract phrase, however, entirely lacks the resonance of "neighbours", the reminder that I am called to be "in love and charity" with those with whom I share domestic life, the neighbourhood, the local community, working life. These flesh and blood relationships must be characterised by my "love and charity". Sins against such "love and charity" are to be "truly and earnestly" repented of before we approach the Lord's Table.

and intend to lead a new life, following the commandments of God ...

The Commandments have been heard at the beginning of the Holy Communion. We have prayed that they would be written "in our hearts". In the Litany, the petition has been offered that we might "diligently ... live after thy commandments". And at Evening Prayer we will pray that "our hearts may be set to obey thy commandments". The Commandments give moral and ethical shape to what the "new life" in Christ is, for, in the words of the Apostle, "he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law". To "truly and earnestly repent", therefore, is to walk in this way of righteousness, peace, and wisdom, the "goodness" which is prayed for in the Absolution at the Holy Communion. 

 and walking from henceforth in his holy ways ...

We receive the holy Sacrament "that we may continue in that holy fellowship, and do all such good works as thou hast prepared for us to walk in". We come to the holy Supper not "trusting in our own righteousness", but also acknowledging that to be Christ's Body, and to receive His Body as our spiritual food in the Supper, we must have a "lively faith" (cf. Article XXIX) from which "do spring out necessarily" good works and holy living.

To such deep penitence we are recalled as we approach the Lord's Table. Indeed, without such penitence we cannot "draw near with faith".