Soon my words will be over as we conclude the Liturgy of the Word and begin the Liturgy of the Eucharist. At that time Father will take into his hands both bread and wine and we will witness God revealing himself; humbly, quietly, simply, and fully entrusting us with his very real and immediate presence. By way of the Holy Spirit, and through the presence of Father acting in persona-Christi, this change or transubstantiation occurs. It is and always has been the teaching of the Church that the bread and wine are not merely symbols of Christ: they are the body and blood of Christ. It is by his body and blood that we have the means of salvation.
At Mass you and I are made present to and participate in the very moment of the last supper when Christ gives himself to us. We can say that in faith we participate in and look upon this singular moment. But is it faith that allows us to participate and to see? The answer may be surprising since it would be no. It is not through faith that we receive Christ since, after all, even a person with no faith who consumes the Holy Eucharist has indeed consumed Christ. Whether or not he believes it, whether or not he understands it, whether he is well disposed to receive Him or not. This is why non-Catholics should not receive Holy Communion, and this is why you and I, disfigured by mortal sin, likewise should not receive. It is not by means of faith that we are called to the Lord’s table, rather it is by way of baptism and the other sacraments that we are invited and prepared. In receiving communion, the inward union of our soul to Christ is outwardly expressed through a visible act of church unity. To express outwardly the truth of this inward union is profound and not to be treated lightly. And so, St. Paul warns us in the letter to the Corinthians that, “Each one must examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.”
Listening to St. Paul, we examine ourselves to be sure we are well disposed to receive the Holy Eucharist. And so, we perform an examination of conscience as the church has taught us. It is mortal sin that extinguishes our relationship with God and so to receive communion bearing mortal sin is itself sinful since we are declaring a unity and forcing a relationship that no longer exists. It is a lie. For sure God continues to call each of us but we must be healed of mortal sin by means of confession before receiving communion. Mortal sin is serious sin, considered before committing, and yet still willfully committed. By remaining in mortal sin, the mind and heart of the sinner is darkened and the capacity to respond to the conscience continues to diminish with time. This is why we should not go but run to confession, as the prodigal son, upon realizing his stupidity, would run home to his father. Confession is our ICU.
In reflecting upon mortal sin and the resulting spiritual disruption and darkening conscience, it is good to recall and meditate on the truth that, first, we were loved. In fact, we were born by means of God wanting us to be. It is a good, you and I are a good, that God wants. Just as God spoke of his own son at his baptism before Jesus had accomplished anything, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” So, at our baptism God would speak of us as a loving, dotting Father saying, “you are mine.” Our sinful actions hurt that relationship for sure, but first, before all else, we are loved, and our identity is to be found there and not in our sins despite what we may say to ourselves or what others may say to us.
Knowing that truth, we confess our mortal sins but also strive to shed ourselves of lesser venial sins. This is the task of the spiritual and devout life, to identify and root out our entanglements, our dependencies, our addictions, and all our vices, and to replace them with virtues. So, each time we consume the Holy Eucharist we can be just that little bit closer to our Lord, a little more alive, a little bit better prepared for eternity.
But why am I preaching about sin when today is the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ? It is because we are not approaching Jesus in the Eucharist empty handed. Just as Jesus would give everything to the Father, so also, we give all we are into God’s hands. And just as God the Father gives everything back to the son, so the Son of God, gives all that he is to us in the Eucharist – fully, completely, entirely, and lovingly. How could you and I approach the sanctuary and give anything other than the very best versions of ourselves.
As we prepare now to receive Jesus let us do so with a commitment to cast far away any inclinations to sin, and to take up daily the challenges of the virtuous life. May the outward sign of unity that we express truly reflect our inward spiritual communion from which all good things must come. For as our Lord tell us, “The one who feeds on me will have life because of me.” And in these words, we can find solace, rest, and peace.
Deacon Peter, St., Agnes Parish, Arlington, Massachusetts
June 10, 2023
Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14b-16a; Psalm 147:12-15, 19-20; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17; John 6:51-58
