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Excitement and Awe

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Excitement and Awe

The 10 year old boy was so filled with excitement and anticipation that he was almost in tears. He was traveling to a personal meeting with the sports hero he idolized. What a thrill he would experience at this meeting! The teenage girl was ecstatic; she was going to the school dance with her dream date. Her feelings of joy could not be expressed in words, but the glow in her appearance and the joyful nervousness in demeanor said volumes about her state of mind. The political commentator would proclaim such strong approval of a politician that he excitedly gushed his admiration for the politician by noting that his legs become wobbly with enthusiasm when he heard the politician speak.

The common thread that permeates the the 10 year old boy, the teenage girl, and the political  commentator is obviously a significant degree of excitement, enthusiasm,  and admiration for another person; an admiration so significantly greater than that which one would normally expect. Each individual would probably experience a form of trembling, when they would actually meet the person for whom they possess so much respect. Clearly there is nothing wrong for an individual to experience excitement and awe in meeting a greatly admired person; matter of fact one might wonder why a person was not excited in such an instance. If an individual felt no special enthusiasm, awe, and joyful trembling, then one would wonder if there existed any admiration for the individual being met.

When a Catholic walks down the aisle at Mass to receive Holy Communion, which is the Real Presence of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, God, does the Catholic experience a sense of excitement, awe, and a trembling of the knees? What anticipation exists? Does the Catholic really internalize the enormity of what occurs when he/she receives the Eucharist?  God almighty is entering into an intimate and loving encounter with the human recipient of the Eucharist. It is God meeting man on a very personal basis!! No other meeting can compare to the extraordinary meeting of God with man. If one becomes excited and enthused about meeting a sports hero, an admired member of the opposite sex, a politician, or anyone else, would it not be far more exciting and awe inspiring to experience the presence of God in the Eucharist?  Yet, are not many Catholics perfunctory in the receiving of the Eucharist, as if the receiving of the Lord’s Body and Blood was just a routine gesture? To some, the walk up the isle to receive Holy Communion is just an opportunity to wave to friends in the pews or a chance to show off some new clothes.

The two disciples of Christ who walked with Him to Emmaus noted how their “hearts were burning within us”, when Jesus broke and blessed the bread and gave it to them. Shouldn’t each communicant also approach the Eucharist with “hearts burning” with excitement, awe, and reverence? The receiving of the Eucharist should not be a simple, routine gesture but rather an intense, fulfilling meeting with the sublime God.

Others have expressed their awe and excitement in their own words as noted below.

“I have such a thirst and hunger before receiving Him that it’s a wonder I don’t die of anxiety”. –  Blessed Padre Pio

“If angels could be jealous of men, they would be so for one reason: Holy Communion.” – St. Maximilian Kolbe

“For One (Jesus) in such a lofty position to stoop so low is a marvel that is staggering.  –  St. Francis Assisi

“Recently, I heard a story about a priest, who was traveling with a Protestant minister in a car. When they passed a Catholic Church, the priest made the sign of the cross. The priest explained that it was done out of reverence for Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament. The minister told him, “If I believed what you believe, I would get out of the car, run inside the Church, fall on my knees and never get up again.”  – Unknown

“Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament has His hands full of graces, and He is ready to bestow them on anyone who asks for them.”  –  St. Peter of Alcantara

How would you describe your attitude and thoughts as you prepare to receive Jesus in the Eucharist?

Some suggested readings: (While there exists a very large number of sources on the Eucharist, the ones listed below might be a good start in the pursuit of an understanding of the Eucharist.)

  • “Mysterium Fidei”  Encyclical of Pope Paul VI ,available at www.vatican.va
  • “Ecclesia De Eucharistia” Encyclical of Pope John Paul II , available at www.vatican.va
  • www.therealpresence.org is a website that is dedicated to providing information about the Eucharist.

 

Faith, Grace, and Good Works

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Faith, Grace, and Good Works

Jesus said, “Then the King will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink?  And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee?  And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?’  And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.’ Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to thee?’  Then he will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.’ And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25, 34-46)

Are good works critical for salvation?  In his message to his apostles related by St. Mathew, Jesus was clear and emphatic that good works are necessary for salvation.

Catholics believe that eternal salvation is not merited, but rather is a pure gift from God. It is by God’s grace that one can be welcomed into heaven.  Without faith no amount of good works by a human will enable a person to attain the beatific vision. For without faith one is lost. Yet, it is clear by the words and actions of Jesus Christ during his life that good works follow upon faith and are necessary for salvation. Jesus was very clear in his description of those who would inherit the kingdom and those who would not.  St. Matthew’s description of Jesus addressing his followers during which He urges them to take care of “the least of my brethren” is a decisive admonition for mankind to follow faith with good works. If Catholics have faith in Jesus, but do not follow his examples and his teachings, then can they reasonably expect to attain heaven? No!  Anyone who has contemplated on the life of Jesus and His teachings will inevitably conclude that both faith and good works are necessary for eternal life.

Jesus clearly identified the two commandments that are required for eternal life with him….love God with one’s whole heart, mind, and soul and love one’s neighbor as one’s self. Loving your neighbor requires not only good intentions but also good works. Heroic virtue is not necessary, but everyone is able to contribute to the welfare of one’s neighbor in small ways. It may with a kind word, a helping hand, a sharing of a meal, or any number of seemingly inconsequential words or actions by which one provides a kindness for another human being.

There was no ambiguity in Jesus’ teaching.  Love God ….and love one’s neighbor. Loving requires action on our part.