When David brought the ark of God to Jerusalem, he gave the distinct impression that God was really present at the ark. After every six steps of the procession with the ark, David "sacrificed an ox and a fatling" (2 Sm 6:13). Then David, the king of the nation, put on his dancing clothes and "came dancing before the Lord with abandon" (2 Sm 6:14). The musical accompaniment for all this was "shouts of joy and to the sound of the horn" (2 Sm 6:15). "Then David offered holocausts and peace offerings before the Lord" (2 Sm 6:17). Finally, he blessed the crowd and gave each person "a loaf of bread, a cut of roast meat, and a raisin cake" (2 Sm 6:18-19).

When we enter a church or receive Holy Communion, what impression do we give? Would an observer of our actions conclude that we believed Jesus' body and blood were in the tabernacle? When we receive Communion, does it look as if we are receiving God Himself into our persons? We may not sacrifice fatlings, dance with abandon, play the horn, or bake a few thousand raisin cakes, but in some visible way we should express our faith that the Lord's most intense presence on this earth is in Holy Communion. "We have that spirit of faith of which the Scripture says, 'Because I believed, I spoke out' " (2 Cor 4:13). If we believe we're receiving Jesus, God Himself, in Holy Communion, we should show it.

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, May 30, 2001

Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, June 4, 2001