27 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment.
Wow, this is a lesson for all of us. I'm sure there are many of us participating in the Eucharist in an unworthy manner, and let me define what this means - in a state of mortal sin. How many of us skip Mass for a lame reason, yet present ourselves for communion anyway, the next time we go. How about those of us who have not gone to confession in over a year, or who have participated in immoral sexual behavior or conduct. There are a lot of other offenses that could knock us out of our state of Grace with God. Do we reject this passage and embrace the notion that we can present ourselves however we are, because just because we believe something to be true, that does not necessarily make it True. There are many things I wish were True, but are not. The above explanation is St. Paul and Scripture, the Infallible Word of God. We need to take heed, and take it seriously.
It does explain a lot. Receiving unworthily does not bring us Grace and blessings, but curses. We sink ever more deeply into our sinful ways as a result, and slip farther and farther away from Truth and that genuine relationship with God. Denying someone Holy Communion is a blessing and favor, it is the genuine care of a sick soul, not intolerance and judgement. Truly holy clergy will never accompany someone along the road to perdition, but evil and unholy clergy certainly will. They are on that road themselves and want the company.
With each reception of Holy Communion unworthily the souls sinks deeper and deeper into the mire of that sin and forsakenness. Our punishment for sin in many cases is our ever increasing attachment to that sin. So, it is a very slippery and steep slope that takes us deeper and deeper into that pit and dark hole, that to the sinner appears to be radiant and wonderful but is anything but. It is a hole that takes much effort to climb back out of, once those scales fall from our eyes and we see with the eyes of restored vision and Faith.
We must pray like we have never prayed for the leaders of our country and the Church, and not just so America can be saved, but so they can be saved; so we can all be saved for all of Eternity. Eternity is a long time, and the salvation of souls should be the main concern in all things. Concern for our country is secondary. So many are so lost, and evidently don't even know it, and the clergy they are aligning themselves with know it, or should know it, but for some uncertain reason have fallen astray as well. It is a noble effort, praying for lost souls will elevate our own holiness and blessings, even if we take a hit temporally for doing so, and calling out the sin.