133 part i: sunday meditations for the entire year After Holy Communion 1. “the word of God came” (Lk 3:2). John highly valued the fact that — being filled with the Divine Spirit and Word — he merited to proclaim the coming of Christ. You, how much do you value the fact that not only the words of God, but the Word Himself, God Himself, came down to you? At the reception of Holy Communion, some people experience wonderful sweetness; the others are elevated in mind and soul and — enraptured with the whole heart — they cling to God. To some people are revealed many of the most secret mysteries of God, while certain people have visions and receive wonderful favors at this divine table. But you shall earnestly wish and plead for one thing only from the all-good God, namely: that this Holy Communion would not be an offense that deserves a punishment, but that it may be a salutary intercession that brings about forgiveness; that the Lord may cause a change of feelings in you, lead you to a true and constant repentance, and awaken your self-contempt and abjection (since you do not belong among His closest friends, but are a sinner). Finally, may He have mercy on you and bless you, and may He let His countenance shine upon you (cf. Ps 67:1), while He leads you again on the royal road of perfection, shared by great spiritual men. 2. “and [H]e went into all the region about the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Lk 3:3). Penance is not the same as the Sacrament of Baptism, but it has been called baptism.30 Just as all sins are washed away in the baptismal fount, so all stains of evil deeds are removed by penance. Like a serpent that crawled into a tight hole to shed its old skin and assume a new one, [f.10v] also the sinner who undertakes strict penance lays aside the old man — that is, his bad morals, poor habits — and regains the new garment of innocence, according to St. Paul’s expression: “[P]ut on the Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom 13:14). 30 Cf. CCC, 980.
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