During these couple of weeks, bishops from around the world are meeting in Rome with Pope Benedict to discuss matters associated with the Eucharist. Many topics are being discussed.

They have been talking about allowing politicians and others who are pro-abortion (my term)to receive communion. What does it mean to present oneself to receive Jesus present in the Blessed Sacrament? Besides making a statement of faith in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, is there a statement being made about the relationship between the individual and the Mystical Body of Christ? What does that relationship need to look like so that it gives God glory and leads to the salvation of others?

Receiving Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is something I've been privileged to do for nearly thirty years. Sometimes I've thought little about what I was doing. Other times I've felt that I was in real communion with Christ and my brotheres and sisters. But I've also not gone to communion when I knew that I was separated from the Church. It was embarassing, yes, but more than that, I knew that I was missing out on being "in communion with Him".

Being judgemental is not what Christ called us to; He called us to love. I don't think though that leaving a person in sin is love. It's certainly not love to devalue the meaning of the Sacrament by knowingly sharing communion with those separated from Christ.

What are your thoughts?