THIS IS THE FEAST OF THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST. IT WAS STARTED IN THE 13TH CENTURY TO CELEBRATE THE GIVING OF THE EUCHARIST BY CHRIST TO THE CHURCH. VATICAN II REFERRED TO THE EUCHARIST AS “THE SOURCE AND SUBSTANCE OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.” WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
FOR THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE TIME OF THE LAST SUPPER. AS YOU HEARD IN THE GOSPEL JESUS TOOK BREAD IN HIS HANDS AND SAID, THIS IS MY BODY. NOW THE BREAD HE HAD AT THE TABLE WAS NOT A SMALL WHITE WAFER. IT WAS MOST LIKELY SOMETHING LIKE A LARGE PITA BREAD – IT HAD BEEN MADE WITH DOUGH FLATTENED AND THEN COOKED ON A HEATED STONE OR BRICK. EACH DINER WOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN ONE OF THESE. YOU BROKE OFF A PIECE AND PICKED UP SOME MEAT WITH IT. YOU USED ANOTHER PIECE TO DIP IN GRAVY. TOWARDS THE END OF THE MEAL YOU MIGHT EVEN CLEAN OFF YOUR FINGERS WITH SOME OF THE BREAD. IT WAS YOUR FORK AND SPOON AND NAPKIN. SO YOU REALLY COULDN'T EAT A MEAL WITHOUT ONE OF THESE BREADS. THE BREAD WAS COMMON AND EATEN AT EVERY MEAL. BUT THE WINE WAS A DIFFERENT STORY. THE WINE WAS SPECIAL, AFTER ALL, THIS WAS PASSOVER. MOST OF THE TIME PEOPLE USED A COMMON WINE WHICH WOULD BE MIXED WITH WATER. BUT AT PASSOVER YOU GOT THE BEST YOU COULD GET. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SWEET AND FLAVORFUL; AND YOU DIDN'T DILUTE IT.
OUR CHURCH TEACHES THAT IN THE EUCHARIST JESUS IS REALLY PRESENT, BODY AND BLOOD, SOUL AND DIVINITY. HE IS JUST AS PRESENT AS HE WAS IN HIS BODY TWO THOUSAND YEARS AGO. AND THAT'S IMPORTANT IN UNDERSTANDING WHY THE EUCHARIST IS THE SOURCE AND SUBSTANCE OF CHRISTIAN LIFE. NOW I'M GOING TO SAY SOMETHING THAT I DON'T WANT YOU TO MISUNDERSTAND. THE EUCHARIST IS A SYMBOL, A SIGN. I DON'T MEAN THAT JESUS ISN'T REALLY PRESENT, BUT IT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE INTERACT WITH THE EUCHARIST THAT IS IMPORTANT. SOMEONE ONCE ASKED SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF A MOUSE ATE A CRUMB OF THE EUCHARISTIC BREAD. HIS ANSWER WAS, NOTHING. IF YOU WANT TO BE AFFECTED BY THE EUCHARIST, YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE CAPACITY, WHICH STEMS FROM YOUR BELIEF. BECAUSE THE EUCHARIST IS A SIGN THAT CAUSES WHAT IT SIGNIFIES – THE VERY DEFINITION OF A SACRAMENT; AND IT CAN'T CAUSE WHAT IT SIGNIFIES IF JESUS IS NOT REALLY PRESENT.
FIRST, IT SHOWS THAT GOD ENTERS INTO OUR MATERIAL WORLD; HE IS NOT FAR OFF. HE LOVES THE WORLD, HE LOVES OUR BODIES, HE LOVES WHAT WE LOVE. YOU CAN'T FIND ANY MATTER, NO ROCK OR STONE OR INSECT OR ATOM WHERE GOD IS NOT PRESENT.
SECOND, GOD NOT ONLY WANTS TO FEED US AND TAKE CARE OF US, AS JESUS TOLD US IN THE PARABLE OF THE BIRDS OF THE AIR AND FLOWERS OF THE FIELD, BUT HE WANTS US TO TRUST THAT HE WILL DO SO. HE WANTS US TO SEE THAT EVERYTHING THAT SUSTAINS US COMES FROM HIM; THAT IS WHY HE BECOMES BREAD, RATHER THAN MEAT OR DESERT OR SOME OTHER KIND OF FOOD. THE BREAD SHOWS US THAT GOD IS BEHIND AND UNDER ALL THE GOOD THINGS THAT COME TO US.
THIRD, GOD WANTS US TO BE UNITED WITH HIM. HE FEEDS US HIMSELF. ORDINARY FOOD BECOMES PART OF OUR BODY. THE FOOD GOD GIVES US ALLOWS US TO BECOME MORE AND MORE, SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF GOD. THE UNION WITH CHRIST MAKES US ONE WITH GOD.
FOURTH, GOD WANTS US TO BE BROTHERS AND SISTERS TO EACH OTHER. WHEN I RECEIVE THE EUCHARIST, IT'S THE SAME ONE THAT YOU RECEIVE, THE SAME THAT THE APOSTLES RECEIVED. SINCE IT IS ONE, WE ARE TO BECOME ONE. AND THINK ABOUT HOW WE ALL RECEIVE THE EUCHARIST FROM ANOTHER PERSON. ONLY THE PRIEST, WHO STANDS IN FOR JESUS, GIVES HIMSELF THE EUCHARIST.
FIFTH, IN THE TIME OF JESUS, WINE WAS CONSIDERED MEDICINAL. REMEMBER THE SAMARITAN WHO POURED OIL AND WINE INTO THE WOUNDS OF THE MAN WHO HAD BEEN BEATEN AND ROBBED? WINE WAS USED TO HEAL INTERNALLY AS WELL. SO THE WINE CARRIES THE PROMISE THAT GOD WANTS TO HEAL US OF OUR INFIRMITIES AND HEAL US OF OUR SPIRITUAL SICKNESS AS WELL THROUGH THE FORGIVENESS OF SIN.
SIXTH, WINE, ESPECIALLY PASSOVER WINE, BRINGS JOY. JESUS TOLD US THAT HE WANTED TO SHARE HIS JOY, AND HIS JOY IS COMPLETE. THE EUCHARISTIC WINE IS AN OFFER TO SHARE HIS JOY.
SEVENTH, THE WINE HAS BECOME THE BLOOD OF JESUS, AND BLOOD IS A SIGN OF COVENANT. JESUS HIMSELF IDENTIFIED HIS BLOOD WITH THE NEW COVENANT. EVERY TIME WE CELEBRATE EUCHARIST WE RENEW THE COVENANT. IN A COVENANT EACH PARTY BINDS HIMSELF OR HERSELF TO DO SOMETHING. AND UNLIKE IN A CONTRACT WHERE IF ONE PARTY BREAKS THE CONTRACT, THE OTHER ISN'T HELD TO HIS PART, IN A COVENANT, THERE IS NO QUID PRO QUO. IF ONE PARTY FAILS TO FULFILL HIS PART, THE OTHER REMAINS OBLIGATED TO HIS PART. GOD BINDS HIMSELF TO HIS PROMISES TO US AND THE EUCHARIST REMINDS US OF THE NEW COVENANT.
I COULD GO ON, BUT SEVEN EXAMPLES SEEMS ENOUGH. THE POINT IS THAT IF THE EUCHARIST WAS ONLY A SYMBOL, ALL OF THE THINGS I'VE MENTIONED AND MORE BESIDES WOULD JUST BE WISHFUL THINKING. BUT BECAUSE THE EUCHARIST IS THE REAL PRESENCE OF JESUS, THE SON OF GOD AND OUR ELDER BROTHER, IT HAS THE POWER TO CAUSE THESE EFFECTS IN US, IF WE COOPERATE WITH THOSE GRACES. GOD WANTS ALL OF THIS AND MORE FOR US, BUT WOULD NEVER FORCE HIMSELF ON US, WOULD NEVER ENTER OUR LIVES WITHOUT BEING INVITED.
HOW DO WE COOPERATE WITH THE REAL PRESENCE? WE HAVE TO BELIEVE, FIRST OF ALL. AND BELIEF IS STRENGTHENED WHEN WE ACT. SILENCE IN CHURCH, GENUFLECTION BEFORE THE TABERNACLE, SPENDING TIME IN THE PHYSICAL PRESENCE OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT -- ALL OF THESE STRENGTHEN OUR BELIEF, AND DISPOSE US BETTER TO COOPERATE WITH GOD’S PLAN FOR US.
SO BELIEVE IN THE REAL PRESENCE. AND IF JESUS IS REALLY PRESENT HERE, MAYBE WE SHOULD BE AS WELL.
