Receiving communion in the midst of Sin
Someone informed me they're startled by how many people don't know a deadly sinner shouldn't receive Holy Communion. I'm responsible for people not knowing this. This isn't emphasized enough. Sin mortal? The word's etymology reveals these sins. The word originates from mortale, which signifies killing. Sin ends our relationship with God. Some sins are so terrible that committing them is like deciding to end our connection with God. A grave sin must meet three conditions.
It must be grave. Third, we must knowingly commit the sin. So, we know it's wrong and God's said not to do it, yet we do it anyhow. We harm and end our relationship with God and choose a life without God. God wants us to have a relationship with Him now and forever in paradise. God is always there to forgive and rebuild the relationship when a relationship ends. Go to confession, own our sin, and ask for pardon. God waits in the confessional to repair our relationship. Sin is hazardous for the soul. Dying in that state would mean eternal separation from God. Some may believe it's harsh, but God doesn't force us to spend eternity with him if we don't want to.
Galatians 5:19-20 lists grave sins. Heresy, murder, immorality, missing Sunday Mass, etc. Three requirements must be met for a sin to be a grave sin. If you miss Sunday Mass due to illness, you didn't do it voluntarily. The Church maintains that mortal sinners should repent before Communion. You're invited to attend Mass, but you shouldn't accept the Eucharist until you've confessed. A comparison may assist.
Imagine a woman whose stripper husband sleeps with several other women. The husband arrives home and wants to have dinner with his wife. He's indifferent to her countless wounds. Her feelings? Could she fake a relationship with all that grief and hurt? Continue. Cheating husband craves intimacy with wife. Again, he doesn't regret hurting her. Shouldn't he apologize to his wife first? Shouldn't he own his mistakes and apologize? Should he ask her forgiveness? Holy Communion is a sacred supper where Jesus becomes close to us. In Holy Communion, he wants to be one with us like a married spouse. Jesus loves. Like us, he experiences rejection and joy. When we "cheat" on God, we must apologize and beg for forgiveness. In confession, he will grant it. Once our relationship is repaired, we can return to the Eucharist.
As a Church, we must do a better job teaching the faithful about grave sin. Politicians are sometimes rightly criticized for receiving communion while in mortal sin. Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of the Archdiocese of San Francisco said Nancy Pelosi cannot receive Holy Communion because of her stance on abortion rights. Archbishop Cordileone said he did this for Pelosi's soul. He wants reconciliation. The Church must defend truth and guide others for good. Murder is a deadly offence. Abortion is murder. Pelosi may not have had an abortion, but she's a big proponent. She supports abortion to protect women's rights. What's up? Pelosi and Biden aren't the only Catholic politicians who favor abortion.
