Today is a happy conjunction of the Feast of the Body of Christ and Father's Day when we honour fathers, living and deceased. Fatherhood is a primary trait that western religion has imputed to God, although there are also feminine images for God in Scripture and liturgy. Early notions of God in Judaism were of a father who was a kind of super-sized version of us on a bad-hair day: jealous, angry, capricious, terrifying, and bloodthirsty and, of course ,fond of only one human tribe. I could never worship a deity like that. It is good that progressive Christians (and Jews and most Muslims) have moved beyond that model to hold up an image of God that comports with God's incredible love. goodness, and mercy experienced in our hearts and lives.. My late friend Doctor Marcus Borg spoke of God as "the More," the power that is more than the sum of everything in the universe. I like that.
When we speak of the seven Sacraments of the Church in which the Holy Spirit effects God's power in our lives, we can also say that we see "the More" at work. Baptism is more than pouring water on a baby's head and snapping photos. Christian marriage is more than a couple reciting words in the presence of a priest. And so forth. Certainly in the Eucharist, which we uphold today, we see that More at work. Most Protestants err when they suggest that Communion is only an execise in drinking grape juice and eating crackers whilst thinking about Jesus. The memorial meal is there, sure, but also the Reality is present, the Body and Blood of the Lord under the appearances of bread and wine. That is fundamental in our Catholic teaching.
At the institution of the Lord's Supper, Jesus takes bread, blesses it, breaks it, declares it His Body, and gives it out. Then he takes wine, blesses it, declares it to be His Blood, and gives it out. Then he authorizes or ordains the apostles to repeat what he has done, that is, to continue this rite until Christ returns at the end of time. In turn, those apostles ordained bishops who ordained other bishops and priests to celebrate Mass, right down to today, as we shall experience in a few minutes.
As for our belief in the Real Presence, anyone reading the sixth chapter of John, which we heard from today, would be hard put to speak of symbolism. I don't know what else could have been said clearly to reflect the faith of the Church. And Saint Paul, writing to the Corinthians on the same subject, goes so far as to say that some people have fallen ill or died by receiving Communion without perceiving the presence of Christ's Body and Blood. That is a remarkably serious testimony.
Often the Mass is called the new Passover. In three of the four gospels, the Last Supper is depicted as a Passover meal, so that the Last Supper is also the first Mass. It is a wonderful analogy. But may I suggest we look at another notion suggested by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who mentions the ancient todah sacrifice. One who had been spared from great crisis -- like a shipwreck, being lost in the desert, physical assault, serious illness, etc. -- would go to the Temple and petition for a todah sacrifice of "praise and thanksgiving." The priest would offer up sacrifice, including bread and wine, while the petitioner told the story of his being saved. As we receive our Lord today in his holy sacrament, let us remember the many times we have spared and give thanks to God for all our great blessings.
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