One phrase that Catholics use that is almost always misrepresented in movies or news articles is the “reception” of holy Communion. Often non-Catholics seem to think (innocently enough, we presume) that one “takes” Communion. Even the gesture is that of an open receptive stance before God to receive what he has. When people grab the host or bite it, it betrays a nervousness, confusion or fear that leads to an unhealthy attitude of control — again, even if done innocently.
Grabbing was the first sin of Adam and Eve: They grabbed the phrase “ye shall be as gods” on advice from the serpent. Of course, through the coming of Christ, we know, as St. John says, that “when he is revealed, we will be like (God), for we will see him as he is” (1 Jn 3:2). It was always God’s intention to make us participate in his divine nature. St. Leo and St. Athanasius tell us that God became what we are so we could become what he is. His divine nature took on our human nature so our human nature could take on his divine. God became man so that man could become God.
Taking the easy way out leads to problems
Our one-day-shipping, instant gratification culture leads to all sorts of grabbing: materialistic shopping, pornography, abortion, contraception, euthanasia, divorce — easy solutions to difficult problems. Unfortunately, grabbing the easy way out leads to greater suffering and sorrow.
We in the developed and affluent world choose to seize what we think will make us happy, knowing full well all it does is make us “a bundle of anxieties and fears.” Jesus reveals to the woman at the well what he is: gift. “If you knew the gift of God and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him and he would have given you living water” (Jn 4:10).
God is the giver of the gift, namely God himself. He gives us himself in many ways; our task is only to learn how to receive him.
