UNIFYING LOVE
Today's first reading contains the oldest written account we
have of the Institution of the Eucharist; older even than that found in John's
Gospel. Ironically, the account was occasioned by that fact that the
Corinthians were abusing the meaning of the Eucharist. There is no suggestion
that they doubted the reality of Christ's True Presence but they violated the
purpose of His Presence.
First there were factions among the Corinthians - cliques of
favorites - that brought about divisions in the community despite the fact that
receiving the Eucharist was intended to make them one in Christ. At that time,
some ate and drank too much at the meal that preceded the Eucharist. This was
contradictory to the sacrificial spirit that Jesus manifested by His death, which
they were commemorating. Finally, some of the Corinthians were unwilling to
share their food with others who were in need even though they were celebrating
the generosity of Jesus Who gave everything, even His life, out of love for His
brothers and sisters.
The Eucharist demands much more than just external devotion in
celebration. Its meaning requires a response in life; a response that is
manifested by love, unselfishness and generosity. In fact, one reason Jesus has
given us the Eucharist is because it is so difficult for us to rise above the
weaknesses of our human nature in order to achieve these ideals.
The Blessed Sacrament requires a response of unselfish love in
this life. We are coming together at the altar in order to strengthen our unity
and to bring us into union not only with God, through Jesus Christ, but also
with each other as the Body of Christ. Our tendencies to judge others harshly,
to envy, to wish failure upon others, or to consider them inferior are things
we might carry with us to the Eucharist. All of these are opposed to the
essential meaning of Holy Communion. Hence, we begin every Eucharistic
Celebration asking for the forgiveness of our sins. In a sense, every time we
come, even if it's daily, we are beginning again in the constant struggles we
have to live up to, which are the unifying love of a genuine Christian and the
true meaning of the Eucharist. By the sign of peace before Communion we again
remind ourselves that our unity with God has to be accompanied by good will
towards others.
Our challenge today is that we recognize our weakness and our
need for the strength that Jesus alone can give. This is why the Church has
adapted the words of the centurion in the Gospel (more precisely the version
found in Mt 8:8) for our use just before communion, "Lord, I am not worthy
that You should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be
healed."
These words acknowledge not only our need but they also express
that with faith, union with Jesus Christ and each other can and should lead to
a life of love, unselfishness, and generosity.
Saint John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor, known as the
"Golden Mouth" because of his preaching and teaching said the
following words, which may help our reflection on the readings. He stated,
"You have shared in this Table and should thus be more gentle than anyone
and more like the angels, but no one is more cruel than you. You have tasted
the Blood of the Lord, and still do not acknowledge your brother" (Homily
XXV11 on 1 Corinthians).