May 29, 2005
Corpus Christi Jn 6:51-58
Jesus said to the Jewish crowds: "I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world."
The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven.
Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever."
The body and blood of Christ are our way of communion with God. If we partake of this sacrament, Christ is in us and we are in Christ. The theological term that describes the spirit of Christ entering into the bread and wine is transubstantiation.
It was taught to me by my friends who are ministers and priests that it is one of the main theological points that distinguishes the Catholic Church from the Church of England, The Episcopal Church. The liturgy of communion or reception of the sacrament is very similar in both Churches. The practice of adoration of the Eucharist seems to me to be more Catholic.
Amnesis or the recollection of the Passion of Christ within the liturgical service is a way of carrying Christ within my memory. There is no greater love than to lay down your life for a friend. Epiclesis (this might be misspelled), is the calling on the Spirit of Jesus to enter the bread and wine. In the sharing we become one bread, one body in union with Christ and the entire body of the Church.
To me, the theology is not as important as the simple living out of the Gospel lessons. To be willing to give my life to do God's will and not my own. To be generous in sharing all that I have with others. To have the spirit of koinoa, community, breaking bread and drinking wine in the agape spirit. Without the charity and freely given sharing of life and bread and wine the faith words and actions are empty and meaningless. The spirit in some ways is like being a child again. A child often readily will share a piece of bread or give to a person in need without hesitation.
A final reflection on Corpus Christi is a remembrance of praying the Vespers I Copus Christi prayers with the Benedictine Monks of the Minatio Monastery in Florence five years ago. The prayers were in the crypt the lower level below the altar and sung in Latin. It was an especially touching prayer service. I did not know then in summer 2000 that in a few months, I would be calling the Benedictine Sisters in Florida to inquire about membership. God works in ways that I often do not understand until five years later.
Jesus said to the Jewish crowds: "I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world."
The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven.
Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever."
The body and blood of Christ are our way of communion with God. If we partake of this sacrament, Christ is in us and we are in Christ. The theological term that describes the spirit of Christ entering into the bread and wine is transubstantiation.
It was taught to me by my friends who are ministers and priests that it is one of the main theological points that distinguishes the Catholic Church from the Church of England, The Episcopal Church. The liturgy of communion or reception of the sacrament is very similar in both Churches. The practice of adoration of the Eucharist seems to me to be more Catholic.
Amnesis or the recollection of the Passion of Christ within the liturgical service is a way of carrying Christ within my memory. There is no greater love than to lay down your life for a friend. Epiclesis (this might be misspelled), is the calling on the Spirit of Jesus to enter the bread and wine. In the sharing we become one bread, one body in union with Christ and the entire body of the Church.
To me, the theology is not as important as the simple living out of the Gospel lessons. To be willing to give my life to do God's will and not my own. To be generous in sharing all that I have with others. To have the spirit of koinoa, community, breaking bread and drinking wine in the agape spirit. Without the charity and freely given sharing of life and bread and wine the faith words and actions are empty and meaningless. The spirit in some ways is like being a child again. A child often readily will share a piece of bread or give to a person in need without hesitation.
A final reflection on Corpus Christi is a remembrance of praying the Vespers I Copus Christi prayers with the Benedictine Monks of the Minatio Monastery in Florence five years ago. The prayers were in the crypt the lower level below the altar and sung in Latin. It was an especially touching prayer service. I did not know then in summer 2000 that in a few months, I would be calling the Benedictine Sisters in Florida to inquire about membership. God works in ways that I often do not understand until five years later.
posted by Joan Morris at 7:47 AM
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