Eucharist and mission
The story is told about a priest who was giving holy communion. A man came up the line and opened his mouth. The next one came up the line and opened his hands. The third one came up the line and opened both his mouth and his hands. Confused, and not knowing what to do, the priest said: “Make up your mind. Are you on dine-in or take-out?”
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Today is the start of the 51st International Eucharistic Congress in Cebu City. In today’s Gospel, (Lk. 1, 1-4:14-21), Jesus reads the prophet Isaiah’s message: “The spirit of the Lord is upon me because He has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor.” Communion with the Lord should lead us to mission. In other words, the Eucharist is both a dine-in and a take-out experience. Our Eucharistic fellowship with God and with one another must overflow into our daily lives.
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Our koinonia (communion) should lead us to diakonia (service). Our prayer life should bear fruit in works of love. Prayers are empty without works of charity. On the other hand, works of charity without prayer are also empty. Yes, our communion should lead us to do our mission, and our mission should lead us to deeper communion.
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How is the Eucharistic Congress different from the Congress in our country? The Eucharistic Congress is not so much about enacting laws as about giving out vision, directions and animation. The more important difference is that the Eucharistic Congress is all about listening to and dialoguing with one another, especially listening to and dialoguing with the Eucharistic Lord. We come together as disciples with a Master, so unlike many members of our Congress who think of themselves as the masters.
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The Eucharistic Congress focuses not so much on boundaries that define (but also limit) us, as on bridges that connect us. Even more so, it focuses on horizons that refine (and “re-find”) us. May we be led by the Spirit to discover again who we really are, and be moved to do what He wants us to do.
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The Eucharist is central and basic in our Christian life. All our missions should proceed from the Eucharist, and all our missions should lead to the Eucharist. We are neither contemplatives nor activists, but listening disciples with a Master.
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The importance of the Eucharist was implanted in me early on by our Mama (whose second death anniversary we mark tomorrow). One time I told her I would not go to Sunday Mass and instead would pray three rosaries in the house. I remember how she looked at me and told me with such conviction: “Jerry, not even a hundred or more rosaries can equal the value of one Mass.” That marked the end of my childhood alibis and excuses regarding my Sunday Mass obligation.
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Seen at a church bulletin board regarding Mass participation:
- Arrive early (to prepare your heart for the Eucharist).
- Turn off your cell phone (talk and listen only to God).
- Pray and sing along.
- Pay attention to the Word of God and the homily.
- Receive communion with devotion.
- Go out with a sense of mission.
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Think about this: Why go to church? The story is told about two old friends having a conversation. The first one said: “I don’t go to church anymore. For 30 years I’ve heard about 3,000 sermons, but I don’t remember a single one of them. It’s just a waste of time.” His friend told him: “I have been married for 30 years now. My wife has cooked some 32,000 meals for me, and I cannot recall the menu in those meals, but I know those meals nourished me and gave me the strength I need. Otherwise, I would be physically dead by now.”
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Thank you to all who make the celebration of the Mass possible—the priests, the servers, the lay ministers and helpers, the choir and the technicians. Thank you, too, to all who make the Eucharist real in their daily lives!
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Let us not focus so much on the Eucharist as an obligation, but as a celebration of life itself. Love cannot be forced, but having said that, we must not forget that the Eucharist is also a sacrifice. Yes, let the Eucharist be a joyful celebration of the Lord’s greatest sacrifice for all of us!
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Bantay Matanda invites you to a lay forum on calisthenics exercise at the Tuklong ni San Jose in Christ the King Seminary, E. Rodriguez Sr. Ave., Quezon City, on Jan. 30 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. For inquiries, please call 3732262 / 9982548 or 09174167849.
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A moment with the Lord:
Lord, make my love for the Eucharist not only sacramental and devotional but also true to life and real. Amen.
