Pastor’s Corner — January 7th, 2024
Being “Offended” During Holy Communion?
I highly doubt this is a concern for many, but since a member of the parish council brought this up in our last meeting I might as well mention it here. It was reported to me that someone was “offended” that I didn’t look someone in the eyes when giving them Holy Communion. While I understand a sincere desire for parishioners to have me look them in the eyes when talking to them, I find that to be misplaced when it is applied to the holiest moment of receiving Jesus.
My point is this: the moment of receiving Holy Communion is an encounter between the communicant and Jesus himself. The priest, deacon or extraordinary minister of Holy Communion is merely a servant of that encounter. To put it another way, receiving Holy Communion is about encountering Jesus in the Host not Jesus in the priest. Now, of course, often I do look people in the eye when I give them Communion, and sometimes I even smile when giving out Communion (it’s hard not to because it is such a joy to hold Jesus and give him to people). But I don’t always do that, especially when I don’t want to be a distraction to people receiving the host. Many people who receive on the tongue rightly have their eyes closed to help them focus on receiving Jesus. (which is my preference)
Nevertheless, to be offended if a priest doesn’t look people in the eye is to give undue emphasis on encountering the priest and not Jesus in Holy Communion.
Starting January 23rd | Wonder: The Harmony of Faith and Science
You may have seen this already in the bulletin a couple of weeks ago, but we are launching a new “rest stop” here at St Pat’s. Remember “rest stops” are key formation opportunities to grow in spiritual and intellectual maturity and help us refuel to continue on the pathway of discipleship. This important one is about the harmony of faith and science.
One of the reasons I am so confident in the Christian faith is that I’ve learned about the brilliance of the Catholic intellectual tradition in which faith and reason are in harmony. Yet today there is a perduring myth about the conflict between faith and science and many people who don’t practice their faith are fully caught up in its grasp. Of course, even a cursory and honest look at history can help people discover that science flourished and developed out of Christianity and its approach to creation and that many of the top scientists in history were Catholic priests and lay Christians. Since faith and science properly understood can never contradict each other (they both consist of truths rooted in God), we can have confidence as Christians that we don’t have to choose between the two.
But when historical controversies are not understood well from a Christian perspective, especially those that involve questions of faith and reason such as evolution and Galileo and Copernican revolution, people can get confused. Why do I say all of this?
Starting on Tuesday, January 23rd I will be conducting a five-part series using Word on Fire’s Wonder: “The Harmony of Faith and Science” series as a starting point. The temptation for me is to go really deep. But it will be approachable for vast majority of the adults. We’ll watch a short video and we’ll have conversations about it together.
Since so many of our loved ones who are not practicing the faith struggle in this area, I think it’s really important for us to know the basics of this topic so we can be more credible witnesses of the brilliance of Christ and the intellectual tradition of Christianity. This study is free but we are asking people to sign up ahead of time. More details can be found on page 5 of the bulletin.
Your servant in the Lord,
Fr. Mathias