Of late in many of our Churches there are announcements and LCD projections before Holy Communion reminding that Holy Communion is reserved only for baptized and practicing Catholics. This to me is very disturbing and misleading.
This stand of the Church poses one important question in the minds of liberal thinking Catholics – Is Christ for all or is He reserved for an exclusive few?
Yes, Holy Communion is not a trivial matter and the Eucharist is not to be toyed with, but denying our separated brethren the Eucharist because of their dispute with Catholics is definitely tantamount to revenge. If this is not a spiteful policy then what else is?
The practice of excluding some people from
Communion may be Biblically based, and it reflects the mind and heart of the
early Church, as they were taught by the Apostles. It would morally wrong on
our part to carry the ancient animosity created by our ancestors onto the
present generation of Christians who had no part in that ancient dispute.
None will deny that there must be conditions for receiving Christ in Holy Communion. It should be based on the condition of the heart of the receiver and not rituals he performs or group to which he belongs. The fundamental requisite should be faith and a sincere eagerness to welcome Christ into his life.
In a world torn apart by hate and revenge,
Christ should an instrument of unity and peace among not only Christians of the
various denominations but of the whole human race.
