Taking something or someone for granted can bring negative results to the person who does this. The Houston Rockets, for instance, took for granted that they would best the San Antonio Spurs at their home court in game six of their NBA basketball playoff series, especially since two of the main players for San Antonio were out due to injury. Instead, they lost the game by over 30 points. As people of faith, sadly we can take Jesus for granted in a number of ways, especially when He comes to us in His Body and Blood at Mass and into our bodies when we receive Him in Holy Communion.
In less than a month we will celebrate the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of the Lord, and since Deacon John is scheduled to preach that weekend, I would like to take time in my column to encourage us first of all, to always approach Jesus with the utmost reverence and awe. Try not to let anything or ayone distract you when you are coming forward to receive Him. Joining in the singing the Communion Hymn is always a good way to keep your focus on Jesus. When you get close to the person who is to give you Communion, bow your head slightly before or while you say "Amen" after the minister says "The Body of Christ" to you.
After people return to their pews, I know there are some who remain standing and others who choose to kneel and pray. While the Church says that the "common posture" throughout the distribution of Communion is standing, and insists on a time after everyone has received, to kneel or sit in quiet prayer to the One (Jesus) who has entered our bodies, it also recognizes and accepts those who choose to return to their pews and kneel. Either way, we should not allow ourselves to become and/or remain distracted during the distribution of Communion. Rather, while Jesus is close to us, we can either speak to Him in the quiet of our hearts or speak in praise of Him by joining in the Communion Hymn or do both, as our distribution of Communion normally takes awhile in our large church. Consciously keeping our attention on Jesus as best we can during this special time during Mass will produce blessings to us, to our community of believers and to those who we lift up to the Lord as He dwells so close to us.
In less than a month we will celebrate the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of the Lord, and since Deacon John is scheduled to preach that weekend, I would like to take time in my column to encourage us first of all, to always approach Jesus with the utmost reverence and awe. Try not to let anything or ayone distract you when you are coming forward to receive Him. Joining in the singing the Communion Hymn is always a good way to keep your focus on Jesus. When you get close to the person who is to give you Communion, bow your head slightly before or while you say "Amen" after the minister says "The Body of Christ" to you.
After people return to their pews, I know there are some who remain standing and others who choose to kneel and pray. While the Church says that the "common posture" throughout the distribution of Communion is standing, and insists on a time after everyone has received, to kneel or sit in quiet prayer to the One (Jesus) who has entered our bodies, it also recognizes and accepts those who choose to return to their pews and kneel. Either way, we should not allow ourselves to become and/or remain distracted during the distribution of Communion. Rather, while Jesus is close to us, we can either speak to Him in the quiet of our hearts or speak in praise of Him by joining in the Communion Hymn or do both, as our distribution of Communion normally takes awhile in our large church. Consciously keeping our attention on Jesus as best we can during this special time during Mass will produce blessings to us, to our community of believers and to those who we lift up to the Lord as He dwells so close to us.