Can I go to Communion and receive the Body and Blood of Jesus if I am not Catholic or have been away from the Church for a long time?

Jesus is truly present in body, blood, soul, and divinity in the blessed sacrament. Paul says in 1Cor11:29 that anyone receiving Jesus in Communion must discern before receiving. The person receiving is not only confessing in faith that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist but also discerning Jesus in our brothers and sisters. This means we must be prepared in reverence before receiving Jesus. A person cannot receive Communion if he is in mortal sin without the sacrament of Reconciliation nor should he receive if he has not fully understood or believed what he is receiving. Receiving Communion is professing to be in communion with the Catholic Church, Jesus her head, and with those who belong to the Church. The Catholic Church has training so Her people can understand more about the Eucharist and revere Jesus in the act of receiving Him. If you are not Catholic or in mortal sin you can go up with everyone else in the Communion procession but instead of receiving, cross your arms over your heart in a sign to the Eucharistic minister to bless you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, instead of receiving Jesus in the Eucharist. 

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