Like many others, I have been frustrated with the thought of Biden portraying himself as practicing "catholic" and receiving the Eucharist while at the same time expanding abortion rights throughout the world.
Downhearted, I went to my Holy Hour today thinking that later in the day I would write about all the injustice in this. The confusion for the members of the church, the dismay at knowing he is receiving Jesus and then persecuting Him in every way possible. How could we allow this?
Suddenly, in the midst of prayer I felt as though Jesus said to me, "But Theresa, I myself gave my body and blood to Judas at the last supper".
Jesus knew fully what Judas was about to do and yet, he offered him Himself. The life giving bread of angels - love Itself.
We all know that things did not turn out well for Judas, but it was not because of the denial of the love of Christ. In the end, Judas condemned himself. Although he had spent time with Jesus, he still looked at things with the eyes of the world. He thought he had all the answers and was mad because Jesus did not think like him. He sold Him out for thirty pieces of silver.
"Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?" (Luke 22:48) Yes, Jesus knows, Jesus sees. Every communion in mortal sin is a kiss of betrayal, and yet Jesus would have forgiven him in an instant if Judas repented. It is the same with Biden and with all of us.
Sadly, instead of the Eucharist being an encounter with Love Himself, Biden is rejecting Him for his own plans. Like Judas he thinks he has the answers, and like Judas, he is blind and condemning himself. Jesus on the other hand, always offers His love. Jesus is love and mercy. Jesus never refuses us, we refuse Him.
Is it wrong for Biden to receive, communion? Of course, and our church should be very clear on that, but we are all given free will to use as we want.
In the end Biden is not getting away with anything. When he leaves the church he is not getting away with any of the multitude of graces to be found in the Eucharist. He is not getting away with an increased understanding or union with Christ. Like Judas, he condemns himself by his actions.
Christ loves us to the end. He prayed on the cross to God for the forgiveness of those who crucified Him for, "They know not what they do." Does Biden know what he is doing? In the end only God can judge the depth of that, but I cannot imagine that he will not shudder with fear when he clearly sees the results of all his actions, the millions of unborn slaughtered and the damaged to countless women, men, siblings and others..
Would Jesus refuse Biden His body and blood? We already know the answer, the question instead is, will Biden repent before he sees the horror of what he has done, or like Judas, will he in his despair forget the One who is always there ready to love and offer His mercy and forgiveness if we are truly sorry.
