Eucharist
Perhaps you have heard me express a concern about ‘church’ words that are difficult to understand. I believe leaders in the church often use terminology that many people simply do not understand. Paschal Mystery, Oblation, Triduum, Annulment, Transubstantiation and Evangelization top the list of terms that people have expressed confusion about during my time of public ministry. I am sure there are more.
One concept is of particular concern for me because it is at the very heart of the most important Sacrament we celebrate. The word is Eucharist.
Many of us are familiar with two related words, Communion and Mass, which are part of the experience of Eucharist. Communion refers to the act of receiving consecrated bread and wine and the holy union that act seals between us and Christ. Mass is the structure or playbook that gives detail to the series of actions that guides the prayer and belief in Christ’s REAL presence in the Eucharist.
As I understand it, there was some confusion at the Last Supper as to what Jesus was instituting or starting. I am not sure that those present completely understood what Jesus meant when he took bread, broke it and shared it saying, “This is my Body, which will be given up for you.” What did ‘given up’ mean? How could he give us bread and wine that is His body and blood?
And then, to a group of people who respected the one Covenant that God made with them in the desert, how could Jesus share a cup of wine with them saying, “Take this all of you and drink from it, this is the cup of my Blood, the Blood of the NEW and Eternal Covenant.” How could he then say, “It will be shed for you…for the forgiveness of sins.” Then concluding those two gestures with a command/invitation: “Do this in memory of me.”
They must have wondered, “How can there be a New and Eternal covenant? They must have wondered many things.
But, consider that later that evening they all deserted him. Then he was interrogated, brutally crucified, and died the next day. Just try to imagine their confusion, grief, anger and disappointment. Also consider their ecstasy as he rose from the dead a few days later and then appeared to them several times and finally ascended into heaven. Consider their excitement and energy as the movement of Christianity spread and transformed people’s lives with truth, and how they shared meals and stories and eventually were brutally attacked and persecuted for their belief in Jesus Christ.
Then please consider one more important thing. As they were persecuted and they huddled together, they instinctively shared bread and wine during a meal, and in doing so connected their personal stories with the story of their growing faith with the traditional stories of their elders. And as they did this something absolutely magical happened; they sensed the Lord’s presence – His REAL presence – with them. The ritual they instinctively performed mirrored the gesture and words that Jesus had shared with them at the Last Supper. His words began to make sense. The ritual became sacred. The melding of words and actions powerfully brought Jesus so close to their hearts.
Their reaction to all of this was profound gratitude. They were very GRATEFUL that Jesus did not simply tell them something at the Last Supper. The best Greek word to capture this act of gratitude is EUCHARISTIA, which means “to give thanks.” We should more fully perpetuate their feeling by expressing our own gratitude every time we celebrate the Eucharist. Christ has given HIMSELF to us in the Eucharist. The best way to express that gratitude is to gather and be guided by the structure of the Mass, including the action of receiving the gift in Communion.
But Eucharist also opens us up to all of the things we can give thanks for beyond Mass. During Mass we have the opportunity to actively listen to stories of scripture proclaimed and to make connections with our own stories. We sing, we offer the elements of bread and wine and we call down the Holy Spirit to make those simple elements much more than they are. As we do, we can become more through the same Holy Spirit.
Let the Eucharist open you up more to give thanks for the blessings in your life. Let it help you be more.