![\"\"](\"https:\/\/t3.gstatic.com\/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRrdbb2ehzQHl-v1Ko9fFnJOO86XAEBMVYgSyCkrJRvassOyoaKeQ\")
<\/a><\/div>\nToday \u2013 in a rather pointed rebellion against Protestant boredom \u2013 we celebrate the fact that Jesus Christ meant what he said and said what he meant, when he told that confused and bewildered crowd to eat His flesh and drink his blood. It\u2019s really what separates the person of Christ from the \u201cgood moral teacher\u201d the crowds of the world wish to consecrate Him into. No matter how peaceful and tolerant the lecture, and no matter the extent to which you are convinced that he \u201cjust wants everyone to get along\u201d, \u00a0if your good, moral teacher ends his lessons by offering his own flesh to eat, chances are you\u2019ve missed something. (\u201cAlright class, your homework will be due on the 7th, make sure to write it in pen, and eat my flesh and drink my blood, you\u2019ll live forever, and I\u2019ll see you next week.\u201d(Hehe))<\/p>\n
You\u2019ll notice that my Lenten promise of posting everyday was yesterday destroyed by a twelve hour workday and a midnight holy hour, but since it was destroyed \u2013 in part \u2013 by the adoration of the Lord of the Universe, if you get mad at me, thou shalt be smited on. He told me something painful to hear, this Eucharistic God, as I struggled believe in His real presence:<\/p>\n
Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save,<\/span> <\/span><\/span>
\n nor his ear too dull to hear.<\/span> <\/span>
\n<\/span> <\/span>But your iniquities have separated<\/span>
\n<\/span> you from your God;<\/span> <\/span>
\n<\/span>your sins have hidden his face from you,<\/span> <\/span>
\n<\/span> so that he will not hear.<\/span> <\/span>
\n<\/span> <\/span>For your hands are stained with blood,<\/span> <\/span>
\n<\/span> your fingers with guilt.<\/span> <\/span>
\n<\/span>Your lips have spoken falsely,<\/span> <\/span>
\n<\/span> and your tongue mutters wicked things.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/p><\/blockquote>\nIt really is Lent, when God gives the \u201cit\u2019s not me, it\u2019s you\u201d speech. But how true it is! If we turn away from God with our hearts \u2013 if our lives and our pasts run away from him \u2013 then to face him in the Eucharist is a contradiction of intent. We are at war with ourselves \u2013 how can we be open to the peace of His presence? Realizing this makes the Catholic teaching, that you cannot\u00a0receive\u00a0Communion in a state of mortal sin, light up \u00a0with sensibility, because you cannot reject God with your life and accept him with your hands. You cannot spit him out\u00a0spiritually\u00a0and chew him physically, for what peace can be found in that war of spirit and flesh? It\u2019s tough to hear, but such hope ensues! For I do believe that God\u2019s words through the prophet Isaiah are words of laxity, not harshness. He does not say, \u201cYou cannot see my face because you are of infinitely less intelligence and cannot possibly comprehend my Love.\u201d or \u201cYou cannot\u00a0receive\u00a0my consolation because you aren\u2019t really convinced in my Eucharistic presence.\u201d No. We\u2019ve sinned. And that\u2019s something we can fix, something we \u2013 by grace \u2013 can change. In fact, we can be reconciled to God rather easily, thanks to this whole Crucifixion thing, and the establishment of a Church with the power to forgive sins. Isaiah offers us this hope:<\/p>\n
The LORD looked and was displeased<\/span><\/span> <\/span>
\n<\/span> that there was no justice.<\/span> <\/span>
\n<\/span> <\/span>He saw that there was no one,<\/span> <\/span>
\n<\/span> he was appalled that there was no one to intervene;<\/span> <\/span>
\n<\/span>so his own arm achieved salvation for him,<\/span> <\/span>
\n<\/span> and his own righteousness sustained him.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/p><\/blockquote>\nLike a pent-up flood, yes, yes, yes says my heart. What are the areas in our lives that we dam God\u2019s grace? (Don\u2019t act like there aren\u2019t any, I\u2019ll<\/em> smite you.)<\/p>\nIt\u2019s happy, happy thought, to realize that God is held back be these, that He is forced against walls that \u2013 if we were to crack them but a little \u2013 would crumble under the might of his love and mercy. Think of that, the next time you see God in the Eucharist. There, contained in a piece of bread, is a pent-up flood. Release it, for our God is humble beyond reckoning, and waits for our decision.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/tracker\/3060433030054060305-6573085472066332583?l=badcatholicblog.blogspot.com\")
<\/div>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"