Friday, May 14, 2004
Some thoughts on the Communion, Confession, and Current Politics
There's been lots and lots of talk lately about pro-abortion politicians, bishops who are calling for people with those views to stay away from communion, and some ordering their priests not to give communion to people known to have those views.
Now, I am a convert, which already means I look at things a bit different than many Catholics, and I went to daily mass for two years before I was confirmed, which gave me a deep respect for the Eucharist, so perhaps I am prejudiced. But I sort of feel good when I hear the Bishops telling people that eucharistic communion isn't a right, but a privilege - perhaps because I know that from personal experience!
Will this change hearts? I don't think it in itself will. What will change hearts is good teaching, good example, and the willingness of a person to reach out of their mindset and really hear what God is telling them. What it will do is say, Hey Guys! This is special! This is Jesus for real here on earth, Emmanuel, God With us, Lord of Life! It's not just a piece of bread. It's the most sacred thing we have, and it deserves all the respect we can give it.
It should make all of us look inside and examine our walk with Jesus more closely - and that cannot be a bad thing. The greatest comfort I have is to know that even though I can never be worthy of receiving the gift Jesus gives us, he calls us and invites us.
Communion is the wonderful moment where Jesus feeds us with himself, but to me, the most wonderful of all the sacraments is confession. Through confession, I turn to God in all humility and say, O Lord, I am sooo sorry for all the griefs I have piled on you with my faults. I love you so much, help me to love you more, give me the grace to follow ever close to you, and he takes me in his arms and says, Yes child, I know. And he dries my tears and touches me with a grace that truly wouldn't be there without it. And I know that even though I have flaws, that I have failed more than I would like to admit, he loves me in spite of that...and is taking the time and effort to slowly, painfully mold me into the person he would like me to be.
Through confession I am healed and prepared for the miracle of the Eucharist. Together, like two sides of a coin, they bring me more fully and deeply into the mystery of what it is to be a follower of Jesus.
What is wonderful is that God calls us, that he loves all of us in spite of ourselves, and gives the Church the tools where he can mold us with his grace. The bishops with their pronouncements are yet another tool for our loving Lord to call us home, and shape us into the Bride the church should be.
I feel for those who intentionally turn their back because it doesn't fit their other desires...but even there, by making sure we know how special the Eucharist is, it will touch even more lives, I think, by taking away the taint some have given it of being just a metaphor of a man-god relationship and holding it up for what it is - the real thing!
There's been lots and lots of talk lately about pro-abortion politicians, bishops who are calling for people with those views to stay away from communion, and some ordering their priests not to give communion to people known to have those views.
Now, I am a convert, which already means I look at things a bit different than many Catholics, and I went to daily mass for two years before I was confirmed, which gave me a deep respect for the Eucharist, so perhaps I am prejudiced. But I sort of feel good when I hear the Bishops telling people that eucharistic communion isn't a right, but a privilege - perhaps because I know that from personal experience!
Will this change hearts? I don't think it in itself will. What will change hearts is good teaching, good example, and the willingness of a person to reach out of their mindset and really hear what God is telling them. What it will do is say, Hey Guys! This is special! This is Jesus for real here on earth, Emmanuel, God With us, Lord of Life! It's not just a piece of bread. It's the most sacred thing we have, and it deserves all the respect we can give it.
It should make all of us look inside and examine our walk with Jesus more closely - and that cannot be a bad thing. The greatest comfort I have is to know that even though I can never be worthy of receiving the gift Jesus gives us, he calls us and invites us.
Communion is the wonderful moment where Jesus feeds us with himself, but to me, the most wonderful of all the sacraments is confession. Through confession, I turn to God in all humility and say, O Lord, I am sooo sorry for all the griefs I have piled on you with my faults. I love you so much, help me to love you more, give me the grace to follow ever close to you, and he takes me in his arms and says, Yes child, I know. And he dries my tears and touches me with a grace that truly wouldn't be there without it. And I know that even though I have flaws, that I have failed more than I would like to admit, he loves me in spite of that...and is taking the time and effort to slowly, painfully mold me into the person he would like me to be.
Through confession I am healed and prepared for the miracle of the Eucharist. Together, like two sides of a coin, they bring me more fully and deeply into the mystery of what it is to be a follower of Jesus.
What is wonderful is that God calls us, that he loves all of us in spite of ourselves, and gives the Church the tools where he can mold us with his grace. The bishops with their pronouncements are yet another tool for our loving Lord to call us home, and shape us into the Bride the church should be.
I feel for those who intentionally turn their back because it doesn't fit their other desires...but even there, by making sure we know how special the Eucharist is, it will touch even more lives, I think, by taking away the taint some have given it of being just a metaphor of a man-god relationship and holding it up for what it is - the real thing!
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