A question about 1st Corinthian's 11-29

[hilarycotter]

It reads: “For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.”

I thought this was interpreted as don’t receive Holy Communion if you are in a state of mortal sin. Am I correct here?

If so, what does verse 30 mean.

For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep (sometimes rendered as and many are dead or dying).

Does this mean spiritual health? Cutting yourself off from spiritual life?

TIA

 

[Jerry-Jet]

The spiritual affects the physical.

Can you take the Eucharist and be sick or weak or dying?

Of course.

Are people that take the Eucharist stronger, less sick, and more alive because of it?

I think sometimes the answer is yes.

Am I right?

 

[rciadan]

It reads: “For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.”

I thought this was interpreted as don’t receive Holy Communion if you are in a state of mortal sin. Am I correct here?

If so, what does verse 30 mean.

For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep (sometimes rendered as and many are dead or dying).

Does this mean spiritual health? Cutting yourself off from spiritual life?

TIA

For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh judgment to himself, not discerning the body of the Lord.

Yes this is a statement about what is happening to you if you receive the Blessed Eucharist while not in the state of Grace. You are bringing the wrath of God upon yourself. Not only that, but in this state you cannot even know the Lord is there. This is also a very pertinant reason that the Church tells those who are not Catholic not to receive, as they cannot “discern” Him in the Eucharist as they deny the reality of the Sacrament.

Verse 30 is no less important and I am glad you did not leave it out of your question. There is a sin unto death, and this is one of them. Verse 30 speaks to the Church of today when St. Paul says, “Therefore there are many infirm and weak among you, and many sleep.” Look around at Mass and at the lack of faith and the lack of obedience to the Church to see what this verse has alluded to…

One verse that was left out, sadly, is 31.“But if we should judge ourselves, we should not be judged.” this is the verse of hope. This veerse is telling us that if we do an examine of conscience and go confess our sins, we will not be judged by God for thoae that have been confessed. This is the good news.

 

[hilarycotter]

Nice answer Jerry Jet - I don’t know enough to tell you if you are correct or not But its a beautiful thought!

rciadan, I can accept that perhaps Paul might have been speaking about people in the Church today, but I thought the Church at that time (50-70 ad) was very zealous. Am I wrong here?

Thanks for your answers guys

 

[rciadan]

Nice answer Jerry Jet - I don’t know enough to tell you if you are correct or not But its a beautiful thought!

rciadan, I can accept that perhaps Paul might have been speaking about people in the Church today, but I thought the Church at that time (50-70 ad) was very zealous. Am I wrong here?

Thanks for your answers guys

I would say that the church then was not much different than today, which is why we see Paul telling people not to treat some differently because of their clothes and fine jewlerly, etc. Others he is telling not to be distracted by pagan (new age) influences. It goes on and on…He was speaking to the Church then… and to the Church now…Remember that many many people would wait till near death before going to confession, just like so many do now…

 

[Jerry-Jet]

I know one thing–having a clear conscience is good mental health and reduces stress.

Ask any doctor if that is good for your physical health and he will say yes.

Remember in the Ole Testament after the commandment to"honor your father and mother" the scriptures say “so your day will be long on the Earth”.

One can die young in a state of grace but don’t tell me that living in a state of grace does not make the body healthier.

Have you ever considered that all christians who die in a state of grace–no matter how long they live–might have lived longer just because they were in a state of grace.

Remember God can use someone who is in a state of grace to achieve His will.

Remember that God Lenghtened the days of King Hezekiah in the Old Testament.

Remember that if you follow God you won’t be a drunkard–you won’t take imprudent risks–you will have a much less chance of contracting a sexual disease.

You won’t abuse your body because you’ll honor it as the Temple of the Holy Spirit.

I’m not saying that all of us can’t die young or die tomorrow. I’m just saying that following God and doing His will will ensure that our lives will not be cut short by stupid sin and we will die when God wants us to die and instead of when He merely lets us die.

Doesn’t that make sense?