“For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when He was betrayed took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, “This is My body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.’ In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me’ ” 1 Corinthians 11:23–25
St. Paul emphasizes the importance of the doctrine of the Real Presence and sees dire consequences in unbelief: “Any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself” 1 Corinthians 11:29
As I sit here this morning preparing my heart and mind for Mass, I hear the Lord speak in my heart. “My son, it brings Me great sorrow that so many will come unworthily to My Eucharistic Gift. I am forced to enter hearts who don’t believe or care that I am truly present in the mea they partake.”
Do you prepare yourself to enter fully into the mystery of the Eucharist? Do you truly believe beyond human understanding that Jesus IS fully present in the Eucharist?
No soul should approach the Lord and receive Him in the Eucharist if in a state of sin. But, even a soul mired in sin who approaches and receives the Eucharist knowing He is present stands better than the one who flippantly grabs the host with an unbelieving heart. I once asked my spiritual director if a man coming to receive the Eucharist in a state of mortal sin can be confident of receiving Jesus without judgment if he truly believes this is God? If a contrite heart begging forgiveness is always forgiven and small sin can be washed away in the Eucharist, why would we believe Jesus is limited from washing a stained soul from the inside out? I don’t know the answer. But, God has put upon my heart that He would rather enter the believing soul of one in a sinful state than that of one who doesn’t even believe.
So may Catholics shamefully approach and receive the Lord each week with unbelieving hearts. So few don’t believe I’m the real presence any longer. So many Christians since Martin Luther’s act don’t believe in the Eucharist. Yet, they say they celebrate communion once in a while ‘in remembrance’ not in reality. Then, they condemn Catholics who know the truth of the real presence.
Who ‘eats and drinks judgment upon himself’ more? The soul with eyes lowered begging Jesus to enter their dark soul and bring light and forgiveness? Or the man who doesn’t believe at all but still comes to the table?
**I do not mean that anyone should neglect confession and approach the Eucharist in sin. All should come clean and fully open to the graces received through the Eucharist**
Remember that when you receive Holy Communion, God makes your soul a tabernacle. He enters in and remains within unless you push Him out.