Holy Mass is an occasion to meet our Lord in person, worship him, and to receive him in Communion. Just before Communion, the priest explains how great a gift God has sent through his hands. ‘Behold the Lamb of God, behold Him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the Supper of the Lamb’. It is an invitation to partake in the body and blood of our Savior. So the natural response should have been a word of gratitude. But instead, we say, ‘Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.’
We borrowed these words from the Centurion, who counted himself unworthy to receive Jesus into his house, but at the same time was confident that just a word from the Lord was sufficient to heal his servant [Lk 7:6:7]. The Centurion was aware of his unworthiness.
Prophet Isaiah’s words best capture the depths of unworthiness a man feels when he is confronted with the presence of God. “Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”[Isa 6:5].
At Horeb, the mountain of God, Moses was afraid to look at God [Ex 3:6]. Daniel could not withstand the glory of God’s presence. His ‘strength left him, and his complexion grew deathly pale, and he retained no strength’ after that vision [Dan 10:8].
Moses, Isaiah and Daniel were afraid, but we are least afraid to approach the Lord who is truly present in the Holy Eucharist. What makes us worthy to receive it?
Though he has elaborated on the theme of Jesus as the bread of life [Jn ch.6] John does not specify the pre qualifications required to receive the true bread of life. But Jesus himself has once stated that we should go through a process of washing before taking part in his supper. ‘Unless I wash you, you have no share with me’ [Jn 13:8]. The primary purpose of receiving Communion is to unite with the Lord in spirit. ‘Anyone united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him’ [1 Cor 6:17].
Jesus sits at the confessional to wash us. But we are in a hurry and simply bypass him forgetting that it is the same Jesus who is waiting for us at the altar. If we approach the altar unwashed, we cannot expect to have any share with Jesus. There is only one person who teaches that confession and repentance are not required to receive Communion, and unfortunately he is the biggest liar and in fact the father of all lies. His first victim was Judas who stepped into the darkness outside immediately after receiving the first Communion which for him was just a piece of bread.
The Holy Eucharist that we receive in an unworthy state will pave the way for Satan to enter into our life and separate us from the eternal light of Jesus. Paul elaborates; ‘Whoever, therefore, eats the bread and drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be answerable for the body and blood of the Lord. Examine yourselves, and only then eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For all who eat and drink without discerning the body, eat and drink judgment against themselves’ [1 Cor 11: 27-29].
The Church is aware of the grave damages an unworthy reception of the Holy Euchaarist would bring to the faithful, and therefore, constantly reminds them of the need to have the proper disposition by way of a good confession. ‘Anyone who desires to receive Christ in Eucharistic communion must be in the state of grace. Anyone aware of having sinned mortally must not receive communion without having received absolution in the sacrament of penance’ [CCC 1415].
Jesus said it, Paul reminded and the Church instructed us; but we fail to pay heed and continue receiving the Communion in an unworthy manner! Empty confessionals in our churches are a danger sign. And if people throng to receive Communion without Jesus having washed them in the sacrament of penance is an alarming symbol. The symbol of a generation that has turned so foolish as to knowingly accept their own judgment!
Once Jesus lamented about Judas; ‘It would have been better for that one not to have been born’[Mt 26:24]. Today Jesus laments; ‘It would have been better for them not to have received my body and blood’.
Today the biggest challenge the Church faces is to bring back those who do not appreciate the value of the sacrament of penance. Let us pray for God’s mercy to shower upon them so that their hearts are opened to true repentance and they be blessed with the grace to receive the Lord in a worthy manner.
