Corpus Christi (Thurs. after Trinity)

(Day of Thanksgiving for Holy Communion)

True Living

[Jesus said] ‘Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live for ever.’ John 6.57-58

The long view

It was because Jesus could take the long view, his sights set on eternity, that with perfect physical and spiritual poise and equilibrium he could meet the world’s antagonism, unbelief and apathy. He wept with the sisters at Bethany, he mourned over the arrogant and scheming Jerusalem – but he knew that those dramas would pass. The criteria governing his mission would continue for ever: fruits of the Spirit, salvation of souls, and the love of God. These indestructible things would see out the earth, and even the present heaven; and they would still be operative to see in a new heaven and a new earth. If our sights were more firmly set on eternity, we would not get so strung up about the daily, little troubles. Were we to realize more readily that small troubles are of Satan’s making, and larger ones of our own inflating, we should be less willing to do the devil’s work. Strong words? Yes – but Jesus gives us the solution in three words: ‘Do not fear.’ Our fear magnifies the devil’s initial angst into mega-problems. We should focus on the invitation of Jesus to believe in life, to feed on him who is the life, to off-load the trouble as soon as we get it on to him, and to leave it there. We need to recite this solution time and again, as Jesus had to teach it to his disciples – not once, but many times. It’s a dastardly crime that Satan has conned so many into believing that fear must be a part of life: the devil’s idea of life is not forty-second cousin to that of Jesus’.

Mute reminder

Every time we celebrate the Eucharist, the bread and wine are mute reminders to Satan of the greatest battle ever fought – reminders to him of the power he lost when Jesus claimed an everlasting victory. Little wonder, then, that the devil works hard at blunting the world’s (and many Christians’) understanding of the sacrament. We come to the rail to show on whose side we are fighting; to,~~ ‘ ‘I remember the great sacrifice of our Lord; to thank God for the fife that that sacrifice brought us; and to rededicate ourselves to his service. There may be other reasons valid for individual communicants, but these are the prime reasons common to all.

In the Upper Room

In the Upper Room at the Last Supper, Jesus was not only fellowshipping with his friends and preparing them for mission; he was looking down the years to come and anticipating the unifying and strengthening power of the sacrament, as it would feature in his Church. He saw you and me, joining at the altar rail on this Corpus Christi Of 2005. We were on his mind, together with countless millions for whom he knew the sacrifice was worth it.

O Bread of heaven, beneath this veil,
Thou dost my very God conceal;
My Jesus, dearest treasure, Hail!
I love thee, and adoring kneel.
Each living soul by thee is fed,
With thine own self, in form of bread.
St Alphonsus, 1696-1787; tr. R. Vaughan, 1827-1908

Christ’s life

With Christ’s life in us, we leave the eucharist as different people – stronger than when we came, more fully equipped to deal with Satan, more open to Jesus and to others by virtue of his life and light in us. Will others notice? Will it be God’s fault if they do not? Let us reflect just what we are taking in: life, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self control, truth, the right way, the true vine, the Good Shepherd, the Son of God . . . No, we cannot fathom all that. But condense it into a wafer, and a sip of wine, and there is hope. That was why Jesus made the Last Supper so simple.

Suggested hymns

Author of life divine; Be still, for the presence of the Lord; Strengthen for service, Lord; We hail thy presence glorious.