Two new blog posts.

blog/posts/2020-11-26-reverence-for-authority.html

@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+<p>Some time ago I was at the bar with some of my friends, and the topic
+came up about signs of reverence during the Mass, in particular kneeling
+in order to receive Communion, and the importance of receiving Communion
+on the tongue (as opposed to on the hand). It was at this point that I
+explained my usual bit about both the facilitation of sacrilege to the
+Holiest of Sacraments when Communion in the hand is made common-place,
+but also the possible scandal that can occur for an observer who may be
+doubting the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist. I suspect,
+however, that my explanations did little good and were not too
+convincing. Not because there was any flaw in my reasoning, nor because
+my friend was incapable of understanding it, but because I had
+completely missed what he was truly asking: why is reverence to
+authority - in particular the highest authority which is Jesus Christ -
+so important? In particular, he had asked about <i>physical</i>
+reverence. I will go over this here, although I hope to have the chance
+to bring it up to him as well sometime in the near future.</p>
+
+<p>To start, I would like to make some semantic clarifications with
+regards to the term "reverence". Reverence is always something that is
+demonstrated outwardly, because on its own it is not a feeling as
+respect is, but rather it is the outward demonstration of respect. Hence
+I do not enjoy referring to <i>physical</i> reverence, since reverence
+is in itself <i>physical</i> in the sense that it is always demonstrated
+outwardly. This is true not only in English (the language in which I am
+writing this article), but also in Spanish (the language in which I was
+speaking with this friend). Therefore, reverence is always a display of
+respect, but not the respect itself.</p>
+
+<p>So why then must we demonstrate respect outwardly? Why must we
+<i>revere</i> our authorities, and most importantly the highest of all
+authorities, Jesus Christ? Especially in the case of Jesus, does He not
+know of our respect for Him that we hold in our hearts? Why does He need
+us to show Him reverence?</p>
+
+<p>To answer this, I'd say it's important to ask why we outwardly
+demonstrate any kind of emotion. For it is not only respect that we
+should demonstrate outwardly. Take love as an example. When we truly
+love someone - parents, siblings, children, one's spouse, friends, etc.
+- it is of no doubt to anyone that we should show our love in a physical
+manner; we embrace them, we kiss them, we hold their hands through tough
+times, and we throw our arms around their shoulder, we give them kind
+words of encouragement or words of correction when they make mistakes.
+Why? Does a mother not know that her child loves her? Do children not
+know they are loved by their parents? It is because our feelings are
+worth nothing if not expressed in our words and our actions. And even
+the tiniest of gestures of affection can make the biggest
+difference.</p>
+
+<p>So returning to the topic of reverence, we must show reverence for
+our Lord because, just like love, our respect for Him is worth nothing
+if we keep it to ourselves. He knows what we hold in our hearts, but if
+that is truly what we hold for Him, then we should be looking for every
+excuse to show Him those feelings, whether in private or in public, in
+small or big ways.</p>
+
+<p>Therefore, every time you go to a church, or pray a Rosary, or the
+Liturgy of the Hours, or in any way address our Lord, take a bow, take a
+kneel. Show Him and all those around you that Christ is the Lord and
+deserving of the highest reverence, above that of any king, for He is
+King of kings. All nations, all creatures, all authorities shall bow
+down before Him. And perhaps most importantly, when during the Mass you
+go up to receive the Holiest of Sacraments, the Corpus Christi, if there
+is nothing impeding you, kneel to receive our Lord. Whether or not you
+receive Communion on the tongue, you can always receive Him
+kneeling.</p>