I hope you’re enjoying and having a safe Memorial Day holiday weekend!  I’m visiting my mother in my small home town in Missouri and, although it’s Sunday and Memorial Day is officially not until tomorrow, I visited my father’s gravesite at the Missouri Veteran’s Cemetery this afternoon.

Today is Pentecost Sunday, marking the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles 50 days after Christ’s resurrection.  My wife and I attended Mass this morning at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with about 50 other faithful (there simply aren’t many Catholics in southeast Missouri).  This small parish doesn’t have the numbers to have an actual choir but they do have two women with beautiful, harmonizing voices who led the congregation in singing the hymns a  cappella.  We actually sounded fairly good.  

The Communion hymn sung this morning was I Received the Living God, and my attention was captured by the opening refrain: 

“I received the living God, and my heart is filled with joy, I received the living God, and my heart is filled with joy.”

I looked up from the hymnal and gazed at the faces of those who had just received Communion and were walking back to their pews.  I didn’t see a lot of joy on their faces.  But, I didn’t expect to.  Even in my home parish I seldom see any inkling of joy on the faces of those who have just received Communion.  Instead, I see something akin to solemn sadness – heads down, sad eyes, no smiles, slow-walking – like their best friend just died.  I’ve always thought there was something wrong with that picture.  

For sure, there must be reverence when receiving the Eucharist, but I’ve never thought this was a time for sadness.  This ought to be the highlight of one’s day!  Yes, Jesus died a terrible death on a cross, an event that should never be forgotten or minimized, but he did it out of true love for each of us, a love that should be received with gratitude.   His sacrifice saved us from eternal death and, instead, gives us hope for eternal salvation.  He knew we would need His grace to combat the evil one so He gifts Himself to us supernaturally in the Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist, an amazing gift that should arouse us and fill our hearts with joy.

In my home church, we have a figure of the risen Jesus on a cross above the entrance doors to the sanctuary.  Jesus has his arms extended forwards in a gesture suggesting His immense love for us.  When I receive Communion there, I look up with reverence to Jesus on the Crucifix hanging above the altar and I say “Thank You! for Your sacrifice”.  Then, as I’m returning to my pew, it feels natural to look upon the cross with Jesus’ arms outstretched and say another reverent “Thank You for Your love and for the gift of Yourself in the Sacrament I just received!” There is always a smile on my face that reflects the gratitude and joy in my heart for having just received the living God.

When you receive the living God, will you let your heart be filled with joy?

“Lord Jesus, thank You for the sacrifice You made of Yourself for my sins, and thank You for giving Yourself to me in the Eucharist for the grace I need to be the disciple, husband, father, son, brother, and friend that You would have me be.  Just knowing how much I am loved by You when I receive Your Precious Body and Blood fills my heart with joy!  Thank You!  Amen.”

(Is Your Heart Filled with Joy? was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

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