We celebrate the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ this weekend. The Eucharist is the most precious gift - the gift of Christ Himself - that we have. It is a great weekend to consider - Faith and Prayer.
Our faith, of course, is internal. The essence of our faith is an interior, sincere acceptance of Jesus Christ as our Lord and savior, and of all the truths He and His Church have revealed. However, our faith is also external, because our internal acceptance of Christ has profound exterior effects. An interior adhesion to Christ results in a conversion of heart which has significant social, communal effects.
Thus, as we internally profess our faith in the Eucharist, we are moved to manifest that externally. Think about it:
– we genuflect as we enter Church as a sign that we adore Jesus really and truly present in the Tabernacle
– we say out loud, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof” before approaching the altar, publicly indicating our sorrow for sin and desire to be cleansed, a desire that would result in sacramental confession when we are conscious of mortal sin;
– we bow before we receive our Lord at Holy Communion;
– we say Amen, meaning, yes, when the priest, deacon, or extraordinary minster proclaims “The Body of Christ,” “The Blood of Christ”;
– we dress modestly, appropriately, for the Eucharist, giving a public sign that this is an event more sublime than playing tennis or lounging at the pool;
– on occasion, we publicly express our interior faith in the Eucharist through processions, Eucharistic exposition, and forty hour devotions;
– and, every four years, the Church universal sponsors a Eucharistic Congress as a corporate, ecclesial act of faith on behalf of the entire Church. This is going on beginning this week in Ireland - it is the 50th Eucharistic Congress. I was privileged enough to attend the last one in Quebec City in 2008 - wow - what blessing! During the preparations for this Congress we were blessed to host the Icon of the Ark of Covenant and to be blessed by the beautiful icons which lead us to appreciation and growing in our understanding of the Eucharistic Scriptural stories of our faith.
I personally see so many signs of a revived appreciation for the Eucharist in the Church:
– enhanced participation in the liturgy;
– more opportunity for our sick and homebound to receive Holy Communion because of the generous apostolate of our Extraordinary ministers;
– the growing popularity of Eucharistic adoration (at St Mary of the the Visitation we are blessed to have a Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel - open 24 hours a day - and every hour, every day there is someone there adoring Our Lord!)
– an increased awareness of the social demands inherent in the celebration of the Eucharist, acknowledging that the Eucharist has implications “beyond the walls” of our Church buildings; For example at St Mary's our Love of the Eucharist leads us to build a community where there is something for everyone. It also leads us to care for the less fortunate and those in need through our Haiti Mission partnership with the Sisters of St Joseph and our Neighbourhood Ministry which aids those in our own local corners and streets who are in need.
– a heightened sensitivity to the necessity of a worthy reception of Holy Communion; and that our partaking of the Eucharist indicates a communion not only with our Lord but with His Church. Thus, we would not dare violate integrity by receiving the Eucharist if we are conscious of being separated from the unity of the Church by sin or dissent from clear Church teaching.
I believe that this Lord's Day weekend celebration offers us a great opportunity for renewal in faith so that we may be a people who truly live our the faith that is found in the statement " My Lord and My God".