How often we see people entering church, and their first visit is always, either in front of a Crucifix or in front of a statue, or in front of one of their favourite Saints. Nothing wrong in visiting Christ’s image on the Cross or the Virgin Mary’s image. These might be great works of Art, they might be the product of geniuses like Michelangelo; a Botticelli Madonna, a Grunewald Crucifixion or whatever. It could even be, so popular in our days, a holy image of the Divine Mercy. But, we have to keep in mind that these are works of art, produced by man, made of canvas, paint, wood, plaster, papier mache and the rest.
These are just like the photo of my dear, departed Mum, which I kiss so often…BUT, how I prefer I were kissing my dear Mum, alive in body and soul, for now she is departed. Why, do I ask, should we behave like pagans, when we have Christ, alive, in Body, Blood, and Divinity in the Tabernacle. Christ is there waiting for us, He is ALIVE. First and foremost…LET'S GO to HIM.
I imagine those people who run straight in front of the statues, on entering church, will be telling Jesus: “Sorry, Jesus, I shall soon come to see you, but first I have to talk to your photo, your image.” Pity, no wonder we Catholics are unjustly accused of adoring images, shame. I consider it of more shame on him, yet, who behaves like this…because JESUS, will be watching everything, have we ever realized that, HE will be watching our every movement..not simply because He is alive in the Tabernacle, but, because He is God, and God sees everything. But all this amounts to one thing…ignorance of Religion, religious ignorance.
The same applies to the Sacrifice of the Eucharist; we should not be spectators, just watching, we HAVE to participate. I can’t imagine anyone going to a Wedding Feast, I mean the Reception, and just goes and sits down in a faraway corner without behaving as a normal being should, slumped on a chair without moving; without congratulating the bride and groom, the parents, without talking to anyone….he behaves like an outcast. That is the behavior of certain people during Church Celebrations…very ubnormal.
We have to be conscious of what we are doing, at church, in the street, at home, wherever. This holds good even after receiving the Sacred Host in Communion…do we realize that we have Christ inside us ?…So we should NOT genuflect, our chest, at that moment is a Tabernacle, because WE HAVE Christ inside us.
Remember that when Mary was pregnant with Jesus, her womb WAS a Tabernacle. She had inside her the Body and Blood, the whole person, Jesus Christ alive. The same applies to all those who receive the Body and Blood of Jesus in Communion.
We have to realize that we are part of that great Sacrifice being offered on the altar, so let’s behave likewise because we form part of the protagonists, we should appreciate the great honour bestowed upon us by Christ’s Passion and Resurrection.
There is always an exception for the aged who might not be able to follow aThe Sacrifice of the Eucharist as they might wish for obvious reasons...but their intention is good. .
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