At Mass today, the priest spoke of the healing power of the sacraments, and how they heal in many ways-- sometimes it is physical, but it can also be emotional, psychological, and of course always spiritually. Then he spoke of how the sacramental Eucharist heals us interiorly of the damage inflicted by our sins. And I was caught up the beauty and meaning of the communion of persons-- of the depth of power in consummation of marriage. For in marriage, the sexual union of man and wife has this same power! The consummation of love between man and wife has this same power to transform them, heal them from the damage of their sins against each other and unite them once more-- to make up the distance between persons! The Eucharist is God uniting Himself with us on earth, to be with us as much as He can now, to heal us and eliminate that distance and distinction between Himself and His bride until in heaven we can be FULLY united with Him at all times!! The same is true with marriage--that sexual union bridges the distance between them and they are able to be ONE, to be totally the other's, which once in heaven they can be all the time in the communion of saints!
It is so sad when someone removes himself from the Eucharist-- to cut themselves off from the fount of grace--but even more so from the one place we can all experience and receive communion with our Lord!! The one place where we are so tangibly with God, and healed of the rift between us left by the damage of our sins!! Confession takes away our sins and give healing, but to be physically with our Lord in the Eucharist!! It is the same then in marriage-- how sad that so many couples when facing hurt, fights, disagreements or misunderstandings will start sleeping apart from each other, all physical intimacy dies. But then they have cut themselves off from the tangible way God has given us to heal those differences and separation! In a holy marriage, no matter the argument or issue, beneath and behind and all around those negative emotions and frustrations is a love that is a choice. That love MUST be allowed to reign, husband and wife must be able to love each other, and to come together and heal as God meant it. Through completely gifting oneself to the other, transformation and healing can be brought to the wreckage.
