Check out this comment that Linda, a SFA parishioner, wrote earlier this week. It is one of the most inspiring and powerful comments I've read on a blog site:
"...I was so moved by so many of (your past discussion topics) and wanted to comment on each of them but decided to pick one that moved me the most and I have to admit it was regarding the Eucharist. Thank-you for your honesty and for sharing your very personal experiences. I wish more priests would share their own personal experiences, from the altar, about how they came to be enlightened over different matters. It helps us simple folk see that yes even our Priests had to start somewhere on their spiritual journey. And it is usually in the same place that so many of us are.... deep in sin.
As a Cradle Catholic, I too didn't realize what we truly believe to be receiving at communion. I learned this as a 35 year old going through the RCIA program to be confirmed. All adult catholics should have to go through the RCIA progam. To relearn, and many times start to learn, just what we truly believe. When I learned of the True Presence, I was stunned... WE BELIEVE THAT ??? And too asked the question how can that be? But deep down inside I wanted very much to believe that. Really, who wouldn't want to believe that every time we receive the Eucharist we are physically taking Christ into our very self. I NEED THAT. I NEED HIM IN ME TO HELP ME TO BE MORE LIKE HIM IN THIS WORLD. Of course I don't understand it. I can't explain how it happens.
But Christ said outright what it is we are receiving... and I believe. I will not be one of the many people who heard him say this and walked away because they didn't understand or it just sounded too horrible a thing. He didn't go after them and say...Wait, Wait don't go. I was just meaning that as a symbol. He let them walk away because they wouldn't believe his actual meaning. AND SO I BELIEVE IT BECOMES HIS TRUE BODY AND BLOOD, AND HE PHYSICALLY BECOMES JOINED WITH MY BODY EVERY TIME I RECEIVE. WOW !!!!! THANK-YOU JESUS FOR SOMETHING SO SIMPLE.
And yet after having just reaffirmed what I (and we as Catholics) believe, why don't I figure out how to get to Mass every single day of the week !!! I am caught up in the daily struggles of balancing work and family life. Oh how I wish I could start my days with receiving Christ but time committments just don't allow right now, and I hate to admit that. I am embarrassed to admit that. But for now I will try to get to Wednesday night mass and Sunday.
I am afraid there are many many cradle Catholics like ourselves (Ty Roach & myself) who also don't really understand what we are receiving at Communion. I am thankful to God that he enlightened me early enough in life (if you can say 35 is early)to maybe try to help share it with others and my kids.
I hope I haven't overstepped my blogging boundaries here.....please let me know if I have. It is just refreshing to hear others' stories. It reminds me of my own".
3 comments:
Deacon Greg,
Where in the Bible does it say that abortion is wrong?
Thanks!
Anon, thanks for the question. The word abortion is not mentioned in the Bible, but neither are other heinous crimes like rape. Nevertheless, we read many passages where God reveals that He creates human life in the womb, and because of that, it is sacred.
"Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you" (Jer 1:5).
"Yahweh called me when I was in the womb..." (Isa 49:1-5).
"Even from his mother's womb he (St John the Baptist) willed be filled with the Holy Spirit" (Lk 1:15).
"God set me (St Paul) apart from the time when I was in my mother's womb..." (Gal 1:15).
God's commandment, "you shall not kill" (Ex 20:13), applies to all human life, from womb to tomb. Also, the first Christian reference to abortion came as early as the first century A.D. (before the books of the Bible were compiled). The Church has spoken against the evil of direct abortion ever since:
"You shall not kill the embryo by abortion and shall not cause the newborn to perish" - The Didache, 1st cent. A.D.
Dear Deacon Greg,
Thank you for your reply. I know abortion is wrong but...,here is the big BUT, I am having second thoughts when it comes to aborting babies who have genetic disorders and who will live to have extremely painful and horrible lives. Most of them do not make it past 10 years old. Although, I often say these babies should not be aborted anyway, despite scientific reasons, I often doubt what is say aloud. I think it is because if I would have the opportunity to prevent my child from extreme suffering, I would. Therefore, after putting myself in the shoes of the mothers who do abort after prenatal diagnosis, I understand why they do it and I am scared to think that if I were in their shoes I might do it too. I need some guidance on this since I am constantly trying to reconcile science with religion--this is not possible most of the time. Any thoughts or suggestions of what to read will help.
Thank you!
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