Brief synopsis of the readings: Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, previously known as Corpus Christi. Our first reading comes to us from Genesis and talks about a king named Melchizedek (who is also a priest). Melchizedek blessed Abram after bringing out bread and wine. Luke’s Gospel portrays Jesus teaching a large crowd of people. As he was finishing for the day his disciples suggested he dismiss the crowd so they could get something to eat. When Jesus suggested the disciples feed the crowd themselves they admitted to having only five loaves of bread and two fish, and there was a crowd of more than 5000. Jesus then directed them to divide the crowd into groups of 50. Jesus then blessed the bread and fish and there was enough to feed the entire crowd. Not only that but there were enough leftovers to fill twelve wicker baskets.
Two weeks ago we read about Pentecost, last week was the Holy Trinity, and today we have the Body and Blood of Christ. Had enough of Catholic feast days and doctrines? When I was in seminary the rector suggested that we could always pass by the feast and preach on the readings and use that as a fall back. Mike, if you’re reading this, I respect your advice but have decided not to take it.
If you take a poll of Catholics and ask us the most important part of what we do in the practice of our faith, a large number will suggest that our celebration of the Eucharist tops the list. Ask priests about what matters most to them and almost everyone will talk about celebrating mass and Eucharist. And that’s not a surprise. At the Last Supper Jesus blessed the bread and wine and said: “Do this in remembrance of me.”
And we have. From our earliest days after Jesus’ resurrection we’ve gathered as a community and blessed the bread and the wine. As a matter of fact we see this in Luke 24 when the resurrected Jesus met with two disciples while walking, though they didn’t recognize him. But as they gathered for a meal they suddenly knew it was Jesus “in the breaking of the bread.” Since then, 2000 years ago, our world has not had a week without the celebration of the Eucharist. The disciples and their descendants (us) have gone to every corner of the world following Jesus’ command to do this in his memory.
While we celebrate seven sacraments (again, saving you asking Siri: Baptism, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Confirmation, Matrimony, Orders and Anointing), we reserve the title “Blessed Sacrament” for Eucharist. Baptism can be celebrated only once but in the life of a Catholic Eucharist is far and away the one we celebrate the most often.
Perhaps this is why we call this the Blessed Sacrament. We believe that all sacraments have equal value but this one is the one that most affects our lives on a regular basis. And frankly our celebration has brought out the best and the worst of us over the millennia. When I was a priest it drove me crazy when (mostly female) confirmation candidates told me they wanted to be confirmed because they falsely believed they had to be confirmed to be married in the church. Or when I was told that you couldn’t receive Eucharist unless you had already celebrated Reconciliation (gone to Confession). We insist that no other sacrament be conferred until after Baptism but after that no sacrament is required in preparation for another. All sacraments forgive sins and no sacrament serves another.
Unfortunately that has woven into a belief that we somehow have to “earn” our way to Eucharist, or at least we have to check certain boxes before we can receive. When I was a deacon I got a call from a nursing home that a 40ish year old man was dying of liver disease and begged to be able to receive Eucharist before he died. When I got the story from him, he hadn’t received in over 20 years because his well meaning aunt mistakenly told him that since his wife walked out and divorced him, he was excommunicated and was barred from receiving. I gave him Eucharist and he died the next day but I still grieve for all the years he didn’t receive.
As we continue the mourn the death of Pope Francis I believe he will be remembered a hundred years from now for two of his statements. When asked about the status of gays he said: “If they accept the Lord and have goodwill, who am I to judge them?” And when asked about the Eucharist he said: “The Eucharist, although it is the fullness of sacramental life, is not a prize for the perfect but a powerful medicine and nourishment for the weak.”
Far be it for me to paraphrase the Pope, but I cheered when I heard both quotations. If we reserve Eucharist only for those who deserve it then nobody will receive. But if we approach with a sincere heart, aware of our shadows, and ask for it, we are permitted with great joy. And let me say this: the false and misplaced modesty in refusing Eucharist serves no one. Not ourselves, not each other, and not God.
I liken it to a story I once made up. Imagine a wealthy uncle decides to give his nephew a birthday present way beyond what the nephew deserves or expects. The uncle’s generosity comes from only one place: he loves his nephew deeply and wants his nephew to know how much he is valued. The birthday comes and the nephew opens the gift. But, overcome with the gift, the nephew refuses to accept it saying he isn’t worthy. That may be true, but I imagine his uncle would be hurt by his action. It wasn’t given as a result of anything he did, only as an expression of love.
When it comes to the Body and Blood of Christ we don’t enhance its value by making is scarcer or more difficult to receive. We don’t have that power. But we celebrate it well when we offer it to each other with the same love and same generosity that God gave it to us. Eucharist give us powerful medicine and gives God the satisfaction that his gift is valued enough to be received.