If you have watched the news or been on social media in the last week you would have heard or seen a story about a document on the Eucharist in the life of the Church that was debated by the US bishops during their summer meeting this past week.  Unfortunately, this debate was often framed in secular and social media, by commentators with improper knowledge of the hierarchy, governance, and sacramental theology of the Church, who then published opinions without really understanding what they were commenting on. 

The document under discussion by the bishops is about doctrine, theology, and practice surrounding the Sacrament of the Eucharist.  Their debate was a little heated and contentious, but the reality is that the debate was not about the details already included in the proposed document…it was, instead, about whether this was a statement that was needed and prudent at this time, and if it was, what that statement should address.  Most of the online discussions and media coverage of the debate, only focused on one issue: that there may be a call for withholding the Eucharist from prominent political figures over their support for abortion.   The authorization to prepare the document did pass in a vote by the bishops’ conference, and withholding the Eucharist will be one among many issues discussed for inclusion, but it is not clear where that discussion will actually lead.    It is also true that when such a statement is made, how it will be implemented is up to individual bishops in individual dioceses.

For myself, the thought of withholding the Eucharist from an individual who presents themselves to receive is a difficult one to ponder.  It would make me very uncomfortable to do so, as that action is a very intimate one between the individual and God, and I shudder at the responsibility of being the one to judge someone’s worthiness: however the Church has been clear for many years that communion can and even should be withheld when someone “obstinately perseveres in grave sin.” (Canon 915 of the Code of Canon Law). 

That is not what I am writing about today.  I reach out, not knowing what the eventual bishop’s statement will say (and it will be November at the earliest before we see it).  What troubles me is that such a debate and document is necessary.  I believe that this necessity is a byproduct of a lack of understanding of the nature of the Sacrament of the Eucharist itself: either through poor catechesis, ignorance, or pride, even amongst Catholics.  For centuries in the Church, the faithful would have known that to attempt to receive the Eucharist when not in a state of grace, was sacrilegious.  In the 20^th and 21^st centuries, for very laudable reasons, the reception of Holy Communion on a regular basis was emphasized greatly, because many of the faithful were so fearful of the eternal consequences of receiving the Sacrament unworthily, they would avoid receiving entirely.  In the last century and a half, the encouragement to receive more often, has shifted attitudes and practice, and that is a good thing, as many now avail themselves of the grace of the Sacrament regularly.  However, this shift has come at a price: it is, unfortunately, likely that many who receive the Eucharist when they come to Church have not given much thought as to whether they were prepared to do so.  It has become either expected that if you attend Church, you will receive communion no matter what, or it is just something that you “do” when you are here.

In accord, with the natural law given to us by God, there are actions in this world that the Church has consistently taught are inappropriate and wrong.  There is also, no such thing as private action and private sin: each one, is, in some way a violation of the greatest commandment: to Love God, neighbor and self, and in the Gospel of Matthew we are reminded that if anyone has anything against us, we are to “leave (y)our offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.”   In the act of Communion, the “Source and Summit” of our Christian faith, we present the offering of ourselves to the God who is offering Himself to us. While we are never truly worthy to approach the altar in this fallen world, and much of the healing we need comes from real presence of Christ in the Eucharist itself, to approach the altar without thought, without repentance for sinfulness, and with pride and expectation is sacrilegious and wrong.

The Eucharist is the true and real presence of Jesus Christ amongst us.  It is His body, blood, soul, and divinity under the forms of bread and wine.  It is the gift of His grace which heals us, unites us, strengthens us, and forms us individually into His disciples and communally into His Church.  The sacrament is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, entering into the most intimate of covenantal relationships with us, but covenants are not meant to be one-sided.  To not be prepared, to knowingly approach the altar with grave sin on our consciences and hearts, is a manifestation of human pride, hubris, and entitlement.  However, we seem to have lost, to some extent, as a Church and as a people, humility in our approach to God.  When we acknowledge the gratuitous and profound nature of the gift that is the Eucharist to us, we should be moved to respond humbly, with repentance, and with openness to grace and holiness.  If we don’t, then our faith is not faith in God, but it is instead, faith in ourselves; instead of understanding the true nature of the unfathomable gift that is being offered to us, we take it for granted.  If we can take that for granted, then in reality, the God who created, loves, redeems, suffers, and even died for us, is not as important to us as our own vision of the world and the Church.  So, as a Church in which we believe the guidance of the Holy Spirit is always present, and which has been given stewardship of the sacraments willed by God, sometimes teachings must be emphasized and clarified, and even at times corrections must be given.  None of this is ever to be done lightly, and it should pain us to have to do so, but that does not make emphasis and correction any less necessary.

I don’t want to end on a negative note though, because we are always a people of faith and hope, expressed in love.  Even with all of what I just said, this weekend and every day in our Church and in parishes and on altars throughout the world, the body and blood of Jesus Christ will still be present for us to adore and to receive.  There is never a day or even a moment where we cannot take the time to examine our own consciences, confess our sins, and make ourselves as worthy and open as possible for the grace that is offered to us in the Eucharist.  While we may get caught up in our pride and even in our sinfulness and stray far from the path for long periods of time….God waits for us, and is always joyful when we return with full minds and hearts to the Holy Communion that He offers.