August 18, 2024

20^th Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

Do More than Just ‘Show Up’…Discern

Msgr Thomas Gervasio

At Mass during last three Sundays, today, and next Sunday, the Gospels are from the 6^th Chapter of St. John, often called “ the Bread of Life discourse.” St. John Chrysostom, a Father and Doctor of the Church said: “Consider at whose table you eat! For we are fed with that which angels view with trepidation and which they cannot contemplate without fear because of its splendor. Nearly 17 centuries have passed since then and his counsel has lost none of its force. 
 
Today let us reflect then on the gift and mystery that is made present upon this altar-table for the nourishment of our souls. The late Cardinal Martini of Milan stated that “the sin which frequently corrodes the Eucharistic tone of our communities is our taking the Eucharist for granted, as something to be given to us anyway.” 
 
Holy Communion can become so routine that we can think that we deserve to receive it, that it is something owed to us. Some would even see Communion as a “come one, come all” event. But it isn’t. The Eucharist is a sacred banquet that presupposes grace and shared faith. From the earliest time, the Church has insisted that those who desire to receive the Eucharist should approach with an attitude of attention, reverence, and awe. 
 
We find this attitude in the Gospels: St. Elizabeth upon greeting Our Lady declared: “Who am I that the Mother of my Lord should come to me?” The centurion, whose words we repeat at every Mass: “Lord I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof;” Isaiah: “I am a man of unclean lips;” St. John the Baptist: “I am not fit to undo the strap of His sandals.” Their attitude should be our own. 
 
Yet at times, our attitude is that of the Pharisee in the temple: “I thank you, God, that I am not like the rest of mankind.” I am fine. I have no problems. I have a right to your gifts. I have nothing to forgive anyone. 
 
Our Holy Communion should be preceded by discernment. St. Paul teaches that examining oneself is a prerequisite for the worthy reception of the Eucharist and if we become aware of any serious (mortal) sin, we should remedy that through a sacramental confession. 
 
The late Msgr. Leonard Toomey once tried to get this idea across to his second graders, and so at the end of the lesson, he asked them to complete the sentence: “So, to receive Holy Communion I must always be in the state of ___” “New Jersey came the response! Ah, to be in the state of grace! 
 
Cardinal Martini, echoing St. Paul said, “The person who thinks he or she is in order before God and with people, and has no need to be reconciled with anyone, eats and drinks unworthily. One who thinks he or she owes nobody anything and almost believes that it is God who owes him something for coming to church and for making the effort to receive the Eucharist, eats and drinks unworthily.” 
 
This is certainly not a call to refrain from coming to Communion. The Church encourages frequent, even daily reception of the Eucharist. It IS a call for greater discernment, to “consider at whose table you eat” so that Communion does not turn into a mechanical practice. Holy Communion requires of us something more than just “showing up.” 
 
Let us always cultivate our wonder and awe through recourse to confession whenever needed, observing the Eucharistic fast of one hour before communion, receiving properly, responding with a faith filled “Amen,” allowing the minister to place the host in your hand, never walking away without first consuming the host. 
 
Let us consider at whose table we eat “…for we are fed with that which the angels view with trepidation and which they cannot contemplate without fear because of its splendor.”