Abbey-Roads2

My Lectio for today was based upon the “Woman at the Well” - the Samaritan woman Jesus asked a drink of water from.  That Gospel was not used at the Mass I attended today, although the theme of conversion was certainly in focus.

What impresses me so much about the Samaritan woman’s conversion is her utter surprise, that Christ, a Jew would have anything to do with her.  When she expressed her astonishment Jesus said to her, “If only you recognized the gift of God, you would ask him for a drink.”  In their discussion, he told her everything she ever did.  She soon recognized Jesus because he clearly revealed himself to her query concerning the Messiah, “I am he, the one speaking to you.” I think I understand the joy the Samaritan woman felt.

Meeting Jesus in the Eucharist

My conversion experience in 1972 did not at first propel me into the Church.  I experienced the living Christ in an intimate, albeit private way, yet I remained hesitant about returning to the Catholic church.  I had issues.  Because my conversion was so intense, my experience so real, I had difficulty accepting the Eucharist - or so I said.  (Although I always wanted to be in it’s presence - I was dumb.)

One Sunday, together with two friends, who were also seeking, I attended a Mass at St. Agnes in St. Paul - I think it was either out of curiosity, or for the music.  Anyway, we sat about 3 or 4 rows from the front, oblivious of anyone else in attendance.  I’m sure we were a curiosity, hippie types amongst a straight laced crowd.  We stood and sat as everyone else did, but we were not going to kneel.

At one point I began to stare at the statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus - rather, I was drawn to gaze upon him; the gaze became fixed - it was as if we were in a sort of silent conversation.  (At that time the statue was up front, just inside the communion rail next to St. Joseph’s altar.)  It seemed to me he was smiling at me, inviting me to receive communion.  I knelt for the Eucharistic prayer, as did my friends.  When communion time came I whispered I had to go receive.  To my astonishment, my friends whispered they were compelled to receive as well.

After returning to our pew, I was absorbed in the most profound recollection, immediately I understood that I had just received the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ.  Recovering our senses after Mass, I discovered that both of my friends had the same experience, although they had not seen the statue smiling at us.

Our hearts burning within us.

Recognizing Jesus in the Eucharist that day later reminded me of the Samaritan woman and her encounter with the Lord.  Similar to her, none of us expected to experience the Lord that day, and none of us had been to confession as yet. In fact, I didn’t go back to confession for a couple of weeks, and several communions later.  (That’s another story however.)

Everything that happened was completely out of the ordinary that Sunday - just as it had been for the Samaritan woman.  I have no idea what the well-dressed, well-catechized people of St. Agnes thought about these strange, whispering young people that day.  As the disciples with the Samaritan, no one said anything to us, no one stopped us from going to Jesus.

I prayed with gratitude for that extraordinary grace this morning at Mass at St. Agnes.  Behind me I could hear some people whispering, surprised since hardly anyone makes a sound at St. Agnes.  Returning from communion I happened to notice the whisperers, two young guys and a girl.  It appeared they were just visiting, they didn’t seem to belong.  I smiled to myself as I knelt to make my thanksgiving, praying that the Lord would show himself to them as he had done with Mary Ann, Bob and myself so many years ago.

(Note: To receive Holy Communion worthily one must be free from mortal sin and kept the Eucharistic fast.  The soul must be in the state of grace.  One makes a bad or unworthy communion when one is conscious of being in mortal sin and still deliberately receives Holy Communion.)