Receiving Communion Honestly

The Archbishop of Newark, John J. Myers, recently issued a pastoral letter reiterating the Catholic teaching on marriage as a union between one man and one woman (the executive summery can be found here).  In it he called for Catholics who dissent from the Church’s teaching, on this and other essential doctrines, to re-examine their consciences.  If they cannot give their ascent then they should, “in all honesty and humility,” refrain from receiving Communion.  He makes a distinction between people who struggle with sin but make an effort to repent if they fall and those who are “not even trying.”  Worse yet are those who, either publicly or privately, teach others to contradict the Church’s teaching in word and deed.  As gently as the Archbishop tried to couch his words, this is a strong message that I know many have a hard time with.  Part of the problem is not simply that many of us have difficulty agreeing with the Church’s traditional teaching on human sexuality, we also have a basic misunderstanding of the Eucharist itself and what it means to receive communion.

   

To understand the Archbishop’s words on the proper way to dispose ourselves to receive Holy Communion we must see the Mass in its entirety.  We begin by asking God’s forgiveness for our sins.  Then we hear and respond to the Word of God in the Scriptures.  After this the deacon, priest or bishop “breaks the bread of the Word of God” for the congregation by way of the homily.  This should not be the minister’s personal musings on life, or even the Bible, but be reflective of the Tradition out of which our understanding of the Word comes from.  At this moment he is acting as a prophet; a true messenger of God does not speak on his own behalf but on behalf of the One who sent him.  Then we rise and profess our faith by way of the words of the Creed.   

This is no random action, but is placed at that part of the Liturgy on purpose.  We have opened ourselves to God’s presence, heard of the great works that He has done for His people, been instructed on how the lessons of the Scripture apply to us today, and now we say amidst the Christian Assembly that we believe what has been received.  We do not believe our own interpretation of God’s Word, but we believe in common with the entire universal Church.  

We make this proclamation before receiving Communion.  When the minister presents the consecrated host and says the words “The Body of Christ” we are to respond “Amen.”  That Amen packs an abundance of meaning.  We are saying we believe in the True Presence, that Christ is entering into the temple of our body, uniting us with Him.  We are also saying that we are united to all the other people in the world who are saying that same Amen, forming and strengthening the Mystical Body of Christ.  We are united with the Church Triumphant in Heaven as well as the Church Suffering in Purgatory.  We are united through the ages in a transcendent reality.  We are saying I believe and am united in mind, heart and body with all that Christ taught and how that teaching has been handed down through the centuries by the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  That belief is encapsulated in the Creed we have already professed; it was professed for us by our parents and Godparents at baptism, in our own name at Confirmation and we renew that belief before taking the Eucharist.

Receiving Communion is not simply a personal action.  It says we are united in faith with the entire community.  The link between Creed and Communion is driven home during Lent when some parishes follow the ancient tradition of dismissing the catechumens (those adults preparing for baptism) after the readings.  They cannot profess their belief yet, and so are not present for the Eucharist.  In parishes that do this the candidates go off to reflect on the readings and receive further instructions.

Our faith seeks understanding.  To take the Eucharist does not mean that we “get it” all in an intellectual sense, but that in faith we trust in Christ, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life.  We trust that he has given us shepherds who are guided by the Spirit, headed here on earth by the Pope who was given special gifts of grace that go along with the mission he was given.  Are the bishops and the Pope “supermen” incapable of making mistakes?  Of course not.  Peter, the first pope, made his share of mistakes, and even denied our Lord three times.  But when Jesus asked him “Who do you say that I am,” he answered with the truth, by God’s help.  We are saying I believe that that divine assistance is still present to our bishops in spite of their unworthiness.  This is not for their sakes, but for the benefit of the faithful.  

No one wants to be told that they should not participate in the Eucharist.  I know that Archbishop Myers’ words offended some, possible many.  But he preached the truth, as hard as it may be to hear.  We need to be honest, taking in the entire Gospel, then asking ourselves if we truly believe and have the proper dispositions to encounter Christ in the Sacrament of unity.  Then and only should we say “Amen,” for then we would be speaking the truth.