Posted by Phil on June 28, 19101 at 12:09:59:
In Reply to: Re: Where is the Body of Christ? posted by Anne Ward on June 23, 19101 at 13:22:04:
: : Just an additional note.....I can't imagine a God of overwhelming Love denying the Body of Christ in the Eucharist to other members of the Body of Christ. I think this practice is making the Eucharist a stumbling block.
Well, yes, that it is: a stumbling block. "And many of his disciples left him . . ."
I tried reading these exchanges and found it tedious. It's one thing to say that believers constitute the Body of Christ, but quite another to say that this entitles just anyone to Eucharist. Even in that idyllic time we call the early Church, serious sin was a reason to refuse the Eucharist to someone. When one is in sin, one is cut off, as it were, from the body (mortal sin, especially), and so to receive Eucharist is a counter-symbol and Paul states that it's even detrimental--can cause spiritual problems.
Catholics refusing Communion to Protestants is a little more difficult to justify sometimes, but many do not believe it is what Catholics do. Also, it is at the heart of Catholic spiritual life, so why should a Protestant want to share in that? We don't let our fellow Catholics receive Eucharist until they have been properly instructed. Why do differently for Protestants or converts?
You all can carry on without me now. Enjoy . . .
And very good to have you back, Anne. So glad to hear your eyes are better.