Why is that when people come back from communion they look like they are in the deepest mourning? Don't they realize what they just got?
2 comments:
Anonymous
said...
Now P-Nut, you know that reception of the Blessed Sacrament has the potential for causing very mixed emotions. We are receiving the true body and blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ, in, with, and under the visible elements of the bread and wine. On account of that we should be the happiest, most giddy people on earth, for all who receive the Blessed Sacrament worthily, in faith, receive from the Lord the gift of the forgiveness of our sins, and where there is forgiveness of sins there is life and salvation. However, our reception is also a very solemn, and even a sad, event, because it brings to the fore all the more clearly the fact that our Lord suffered and was crucified for us. His death was because of our sins; His body broken for you, His precious blood shed for you, all because you couldn't do what God desires of His people. I don't know about you, but for me its that dose of the reality of my sinful state that keeps me from grinning from ear to ear. That is, however, combined with the joy over the forgiveness that I have just received in my Lord's true body and precious blood, so I usually end up almost expressionless or with just the slightest smile on my face. I'm sure that doesn't help answer the question much, if any, but you know me; I've gotta put my two cents worth in. God bless and be well.
There is a difference between joy and happiness. St. Paul is able to say that we rejoice in our suffering, and I suspect that if we're rejoicing in our suffering, it's not being done with a big ol' grin on the face. Joy is more internal, and may be there even if the external appearances seem to indicate otherwise.
But I've made the same observation that you have, and I must admit it does bug me a bit. As a result, I've always dismissed tables of communicants with two additional words appended to the standard dismissal: "...Depart in peace and joy."
2 comments:
Now P-Nut, you know that reception of the Blessed Sacrament has the potential for causing very mixed emotions. We are receiving the true body and blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ, in, with, and under the visible elements of the bread and wine. On account of that we should be the happiest, most giddy people on earth, for all who receive the Blessed Sacrament worthily, in faith, receive from the Lord the gift of the forgiveness of our sins, and where there is forgiveness of sins there is life and salvation. However, our reception is also a very solemn, and even a sad, event, because it brings to the fore all the more clearly the fact that our Lord suffered and was crucified for us. His death was because of our sins; His body broken for you, His precious blood shed for you, all because you couldn't do what God desires of His people. I don't know about you, but for me its that dose of the reality of my sinful state that keeps me from grinning from ear to ear. That is, however, combined with the joy over the forgiveness that I have just received in my Lord's true body and precious blood, so I usually end up almost expressionless or with just the slightest smile on my face. I'm sure that doesn't help answer the question much, if any, but you know me; I've gotta put my two cents worth in. God bless and be well.
There is a difference between joy and happiness. St. Paul is able to say that we rejoice in our suffering, and I suspect that if we're rejoicing in our suffering, it's not being done with a big ol' grin on the face. Joy is more internal, and may be there even if the external appearances seem to indicate otherwise.
But I've made the same observation that you have, and I must admit it does bug me a bit. As a result, I've always dismissed tables of communicants with two additional words appended to the standard dismissal: "...Depart in peace and joy."
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