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NASB | Luke 14:14 and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Luke 14:14 and you will be blessed because they cannot repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous (the just, the upright)." |
Subject: Is this from one of the "lost books"? |
Bible Note: Tom, I would not say that you "defiled yourself." I think you made an honest mistake. Receiving Holy Communion in the Catholic Church has several layers of meaning. First one should understand that Catholics believe that the bread and wine actually become in "substance" the true body and blood of Christ, though the "accidents" or physical attributes perceived by the senses remain unchanged. When you recieve Communion in a Catholic Church your are identifying yourself as a Catholic and when the Host is presented to you with the words "the Body of Christ," you respond "Amen" meaning that you agree that it is the Body of Christ and you believe what Catholics teach and believe about the Real Presence of Christ in Holy Communion as well as all its other teachings. If you are not a Catholic and do not believe as Catholics believe, you should not receive Communion in the Catholic Church. Some non- Catholic visitors do not realize this and so they take Communion without realizing its significance. The priest usually does not know everyone, especially at weddings and funerals and so does not know whether someone receiving is a Catholic or not, but presumes they are if they are receiving. It is the responsibility of the host of a visitor to tell his or her guest the rules of Communion. Some do and some do not, feeling it would offend, which I feel is being faint hearted and not being fair to their guest. However, I have experienced and been informed of the same rules at Protestant Churches which practice "closed communion" and I was not offended and did not partake in the communion service. I surmise your family memeber understood the significance of receiving Communion in the Catholic Church, while you did not, and felt you had "defiled yourself" by receiving Communion and thereby indicating you believe what Catholics believe, which that familiy member probably considers idolatry. I could be wrong, but that is my guess. Should you find yourself in a similar situation again, you should probably not go forward for Communion and if it is offered merely decline by shaking your head. No explaination is necesarry and no one will take offense. There are other reasons why even a Catholic might not receive Communion at a Mass. Emmaus |