July 15 The Heart of St. Paul
As a leader of the Churches that he established, Paul faced some of the same problems we face today. There were moral problems, administrative problems, and even liturgical problems. The First Letter to the Corinthians chapter 11 deals with a liturgical crisis Paul faced. He was not pleased with the way that the Corinthians were celebrating the Lord’s Supper. The great action of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, which is to bring about unity in the Church, is in fact bringing about divisions among the rich and poor.
Paul writes to them in no uncertain terms: “When you meet together, it is not the Lord’s Supper that you are celebrating. For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal and one is hungry while another is drunk. What! You do not have houses to drink in? Or do you despise the Church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No. I will not.”
He continues by warning the Corinthians that “whoever eats the bread and drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the Body and Blood of the Lord. Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.” Paul’s central concern is that people are coming for selfish reasons and they are not prepared to celebrate properly. They are not aware that their selfishness destroys the Church. Paul’s concern is our concern.
When we come to Mass, we need to be mentally and spiritually prepared and be free of mortal sin. We are about to take part in the most sacred action of the Church and receive the fruits of that action, the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. Let us prepare our bodies by the fast and our souls by prayer. In that way, we will not bring judgment on ourselves, but receive the grace of Jesus Christ.
