We need to continue to pray for the Holy Spirit's guidance on the bishops and the laity who are participating on the Synod for Family. While, the truth revealed by God through the apostles have been the foundation of our faith as Catholics, there is an alarming trend that the devil is slowly penetrating and infiltrating the ranks of our bishops and clergy.
Satan the "adversary" which we call the deceiver can take many forms. For many of us doing the work of evangelization and renewal, he does not come as a scary figure but comes in the sweet and innocent forms of offer of power, prestige and money. He can also come as a weeping widow asking for help or a sinner needing forgiveness and acceptance.
But just like supernatural phenomenon that the Church investigates, so she can authenticate the message as consistent to what Jesus has publicly revealed through the apostles, for our good as she was entrusted the role to teach and guide through the Holy Spirit who animates her - we need to learn to trust as we trust in Jesus's own word that the gates of hell shall not prevail Mt. 16:18b.
Amidst the many voices we hear concerning divorced and re-married Catholics, we could not be of help but become sympathetic that in the sincerity of their hearts, they want to receive Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist.
In my own awakening, I know that I need to trust in Jesus' words, because he is the way, the truth and the life (Jn. 14:6). And truth transcends time and space. When you say something is true, it will always be true regardless of circumstances and time. It will not change even if nobody believes in it. So when Jesus said "what God has put together, let no man put asunder" Mark 10:9. He further said " I say to you, whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) and marries another commits adultery.” And as St. Paul continues to teach "Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord. A person should examine himself, and so eat the bread and drink the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself. " 1 Cor. 11:27-29.
Is receiving a communion an entitlement for being in the Mass? Does the Church only welcomes the saints? Aren't we all welcome to come and worship, regardless how sinful we maybe. We all have sinned and if all of us truly understand what we are receiving during Communion in the Holy Mass, there would probably be less than 3% who would line up for Communion.
The problem of our society and our time now is that we have fully embraced the culture of entitlement. We are entitled for the best seat in the church, the choir should be flawless and should always sing with angelic voices, the priest needs to do better in homilies so I won't sleep or will not be bored.
While I want to emphasize that I don't intend to moralize or discriminate, these are not my own words but of the scriptures and for the longest time, it is what the Church teaches and uphold for the last 2000 years.
There are many times, I have approached Communion with my arm crossed on my chest. In my sincere love for God, I know that is the right thing to do. For me, it is not an issue of what I want but what the Lord wants of me. And while I may have not received Him on that particular Mass, I know deep down my heart He is more pleased with my act of humbly knowing where I belong than forcing my way out and do what I "want."
Satan the "adversary" which we call the deceiver can take many forms. For many of us doing the work of evangelization and renewal, he does not come as a scary figure but comes in the sweet and innocent forms of offer of power, prestige and money. He can also come as a weeping widow asking for help or a sinner needing forgiveness and acceptance.
But just like supernatural phenomenon that the Church investigates, so she can authenticate the message as consistent to what Jesus has publicly revealed through the apostles, for our good as she was entrusted the role to teach and guide through the Holy Spirit who animates her - we need to learn to trust as we trust in Jesus's own word that the gates of hell shall not prevail Mt. 16:18b.
Amidst the many voices we hear concerning divorced and re-married Catholics, we could not be of help but become sympathetic that in the sincerity of their hearts, they want to receive Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist.
In my own awakening, I know that I need to trust in Jesus' words, because he is the way, the truth and the life (Jn. 14:6). And truth transcends time and space. When you say something is true, it will always be true regardless of circumstances and time. It will not change even if nobody believes in it. So when Jesus said "what God has put together, let no man put asunder" Mark 10:9. He further said " I say to you, whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) and marries another commits adultery.” And as St. Paul continues to teach "Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord. A person should examine himself, and so eat the bread and drink the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself. " 1 Cor. 11:27-29.
Is receiving a communion an entitlement for being in the Mass? Does the Church only welcomes the saints? Aren't we all welcome to come and worship, regardless how sinful we maybe. We all have sinned and if all of us truly understand what we are receiving during Communion in the Holy Mass, there would probably be less than 3% who would line up for Communion.
The problem of our society and our time now is that we have fully embraced the culture of entitlement. We are entitled for the best seat in the church, the choir should be flawless and should always sing with angelic voices, the priest needs to do better in homilies so I won't sleep or will not be bored.
While I want to emphasize that I don't intend to moralize or discriminate, these are not my own words but of the scriptures and for the longest time, it is what the Church teaches and uphold for the last 2000 years.
There are many times, I have approached Communion with my arm crossed on my chest. In my sincere love for God, I know that is the right thing to do. For me, it is not an issue of what I want but what the Lord wants of me. And while I may have not received Him on that particular Mass, I know deep down my heart He is more pleased with my act of humbly knowing where I belong than forcing my way out and do what I "want."
