The most radical act
imaginable is to give one’s life to others. Jesus’ words as he breaks the bread
and blesses the cup indicate his willing acceptance of what lies ahead, and a
complete dis-owning of self. It is as if he lays no claim to his personhood,
but has given himself to his followers - and by extension, to the world - in a
total act of self-giving. Nothing is held back, not even his life’s blood. He
is completely and utterly at the disposal of all. The catch is that he
instructs us to remember him by doing likewise - not simply in breaking bread
and sharing the cup, but in a self-giving that is modelled on him.
Each time we
celebrate the Eucharist, then, we are agreeing to more than remembering Jesus.
We are, in fact, participating in his covenant with our own bodies and our own
blood. For his sake, we are agreeing to offer ourselves for the life of the
world. For his sake, we are committing ourselves to a self-emptying so profound
that it is his life that fills us, works through us and gives us life. The Eucharist
is not just a one-sided gift to comfort and strengthen us, but a challenge to
become Christ for the world, bread for the world. The communion we share must
be lived out, not just remembered. We must become the Body of Christ. That
means being one with, and being broken for, others. We must be one body. That
means being reconciled with all others and trying to live in harmony and unity
and peace with our fellow human beings. We must also let ourselves be broken.
That means apologizing, forgiving, and giving ourselves in service, seeking to
do good for others without counting the cost or seeking gain.
The Jewish people
were chosen to be a model of God’s plan for the world – union with God and one
another. However, they failed because of their desire for possession, prestige
and power like all the other nations. They failed because of their dependence
on their own narrow notion of holiness and purity that separated them from
others and created divisions among them. Jesus came into that society to establish
the kingdom of God anew - a kingdom of compassion and justice as life-giving
relationships. And that is what we are called to do everyday – be transformed
into love, into compassion and justice. To be thus transformed into love,
compassion and justice - that is what this Eucharist symbolizes and does for us
– if we celebrate it with faith.
May our sharing in
this communion today help us become one Body, one Spirit, and empower us to
give ourselves in service to others so that we might truly live out the great
feast that we celebrate today.
Fr.
Phil
