Friday of the
Third Week of Easter
(Acts 9:1-20; John 6:52-59)
Fifty years ago Catholics were strictly forbidden to participate
in Protestant services. Today they may
enthusiastically sing Protestant hymns, listen to Protestant preaching, and
join hands with Protestants for prayer.
But Catholics should never receive Communion from Protestants. The reason for this strict prohibition is implied
in the gospel today.
Jesus tells the synagogue assembly that his Flesh is real
food and his Blood, real drink. He is
referring to the Eucharist which he will leave for his disciples. The Flesh is real food because it is made
from bread. The Blood is real drink
because it is produced from wine. Yet it
is not bread and wine that his followers consume but, again, his Flesh and his
Blood. Protestants generally do not
accept the new substances that the bread and wine become. But even if they do, there has been a breach
in the line of their ministers receiving ordination from Jesus’ apostles.
In some ways relations between Catholics and Protestants
have never been better. Still serious
differences exist, and at times the rivalry between us and them is
intense. Because we all claim Jesus as
Lord, we should cooperate as much as possible.
We should also pray for the day in which we can partake with integrity
and together of Jesus’ Flesh and Blood.
