A Netfriend wrote:

Actually, this brings up an entire issue I have with Catholicism. If the doctrine of ex opere operato is true, then why wouldn’t it be proper to share the Eucharist with everyone who desires it? It is invoked when giving communion to the mentally disabled, even when administering to folks who are comatose. It seems there’s a disconnect here.

I’ll be interested in your thoughts.

My response:

Here we have the ‘dance’ – putting together what God does and our freedom to respond. Is there ‘grace’ without any response from us? Yes, there may be: God is sovereign. Are our freedom and faith important? Yes, without such responses grace _may_ not be efficacious.

I read this somewhere: ‘If we describe a Sacrament as a beautifully wrapped package containing something priceless, that is the ex opere operato. God is guaranteeing an offer of a deepening of our relationship with Him. If I never open the package, ex opere operantis, while God is giving me something priceless, I fail to take advantage of it. Therefore the disposition of the one receiving a Sacrament affects the “use” we make of the gift.’

I’d respond by saying that this is all a mystery… But in the end God may give gifts to whomever God wills – and God also gives the disposition to receive those gifts.

So, then, are we responsible? Yes. How do you figure that out? You don’t.

Shalom!

Rowland Croucher