Ongoing Eucharistic Renewal
We are offering a variety of ways to encourage Eucharistic Renewal here at Holy Family because it is a pillar, along with a parish-wide participation in the Synodal process, of our Be More Movement of Growth. The Synodal conversation in the Spirit entails genuine listening to each other even more than talking with each other. More Synodal details will follow.
One of the avenues for Eucharistic Renewal is comments during our preaching each weekend. On the Feast of Epiphany, I encouraged all of us to look at the Eucharist as an Epiphany. One definition of Epiphany is, “A sudden, intuitive perception or insight into reality usually initiated by some simple, commonplace occurrence.” Jesus took SIMPLE bread and wine and he identified himself with it so He could give the REALITY of His presence to us as a gift each time we celebrate Mass. Synonyms for Epiphany include revelation or manifestation. Isn’t the deepest of Christ revealed to us in the Eucharist? Isn’t He manifest in our presence in a REAL way during each Mass?
Two weeks ago as we reflected on Jesus’ miracle of changing water into an abundance of really choice wine at a wedding in Cana, I highlighted the words of Mary the Mother of Jesus to the servants; “Do whatever he tells you to do.”
I can’t think of anything more important that Jesus tells us to do than his words at the Last Supper as he was giving himself to those present, and for us and for all people until the end of time. He clearly says of the bread, “Take this all of you and eat it, this my body given up for you.” And of the cup filled with wine, “Take this all of you and drink from it…this is the cup of my blood. Do this in memory of me.”
This past weekend I elaborated on the word Amen that we say at least seven times during each Mass. It is a powerful and universal word – perhaps the most universal word ever. Amen means several things but I like to highlight three. It means YES, so when we say it we are affirming the importance of what we just said. It means that we believe in what was said. But it means even more.
The Church calls the Amen we sing at the conclusion of the Eucharistic prayer during Mass the Great Amen. This is the long prayer that includes the very words of Jesus at the Last Supper and the ancient gesture by the priest of calling down the Holy Spirit to change bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ. It is prompted by the priest raising the bread, now Christ’s Body, and wine, now Christ’s blood saying, “Through Him, with Him, in Him in the unity of the Holy Spirit all glory and honor is yours, forever and ever.” We all sing Amen, the great word of yes and belief.
I would like to suggest that a greater Amen follows that one in every celebration of the Eucharist which is the one we say when we receive the Body and Blood of Christ. The letter of Paul to the Corinthians that we heard last week gives grounding for this Amen to be the greatest. He tells the people of Corinth, and us, that we are the Body of Christ.
So may I further suggest that when we say Amen when the Eucharistic Minister presents the Body and Blood of Christ to us we are saying:
• Yes, what I am receiving is the Body and Blood of Christ, and Yes I am part of the Body of Christ.
• I believe that what I am receiving truly is the Body and Blood of Christ, and I believe that I am part of the Body of Christ, and I believe that we as a community are the Body of Christ.
• As I receive the Body and Blood of Christ I am once again making a commitment to BE the Body of Christ.
Affirmation, belief and commitment all in one simple yet profound word – AMEN!
In the spirit of Eucharistic renewal, I hope that these and many suggestions from our presiders, proclaimers, presenters, musicians, each other and others will assist you in appreciating the vast sacredness in the greatest gift – The Eucharist.
Remain in Me Continues
We are also offering more formal programming to deepen our embrace of the Eucharist. Our Remain in Me five-week Wednesday evening series of videos, quiet time and discussion has already presented The Imperative of Worship, Eucharist as a Matter of Life and Death, and this past Wednesday Eucharist as a Summons to Participation. Next Wednesday, February 5, we will present and discuss From the Sacrifice of Jesus to Our Sacrificial Living and the final session on Wednesday, February 12, The Eucharist is the Sacrament of The Lord’s Abiding Presence.
Because our Be More Movement of Growth is primarily an Evangelization initiative, we will then offer this year’s version of our annual Parish Mission. On TUESDAY February 18 at 7:00pm, our beloved Friar Johnpaul Cafiero will delve deeply into Evangelization from a Franciscan perspective. Then on TUESDAY, February 25 at 7:00pm Fr. Michael Sparough S.J. will enlighten us with a Jesuit perspective on Evangelization.
The goal of this entire initiative is to strengthen our Holy Family Catholic Community in numbers and spiritually.
When we say AMEN and make a commitment to BE the Body of Christ, we are also affirming that collectively we can be the extension of Christ himself and his mission to build the Kingdom of God. Your efforts to invite and include others to celebrate the Eucharist with us are essential to our growth. May the sincerity of our AMEN lead us in growth.