Such, in brief, is the original, actual and true meaning of the Eucharist, the central act of worship of the Church of Christ.  We can understand, therefore, why the chief benefit of Communion is the unity of Christ’s people with Christ and with one another.  And we can also understand why uncharitableness, which injures and can even destroy that unity, is so grievous a sin.  It becomes still more grievous when the sin of treachery is added, and members of the Church speak unkindly or maliciously about their fellow members to those outside the Church’s ranks.  In so doing they injure Christ, they damage his Church, and they poison their own souls.

How different are the true fruits of Communion: the bonds of love and gentleness and loyalty which unite the Church to Christ and her members to one another.  May such fruits be apparent in the life of each one of us so that we all may be worthy members of the glorified Body of Christ.

Note

This mystery is at the heart of the hymn, Once, only once, and once for all.  

References

1. Book of Common Prayer (1662) From prayer after Communion. Available from:
http://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-worship/worship/book-of-common-prayer/the-lord%27s-supper-or-holy-communion.aspx (Accessed 24 May 2013) (Internet).

2. Augustine of Hippo (354 – 430) Sermon 227, cited by Dix, G. (1945) The shape of the liturgy, Westminster: Dacre Press, p.247.