Feast of Corpus Christi

On this holy feast day we have a guest blogger, Regina Heater …

When I first went back to Mass – to the Easter Vigil – after a time when I was deeply, deeply wounded by people whom I trusted and loved and depended upon – I cried through most of the Eucharistic liturgy. It felt like coming home, and it felt like I just might heal after all.  And yet, as I went to receive Communion, at that Mass and the ones that followed, I would wonder – what exactly did I believe? Was I accepting Transubstantiation? Consubstantiation? Mere symbols? When I bowed with the priest, as the words triggered memories of bells rung by altar boys (how I wanted to ring those chimes!), what did I believe? Was it Christ? Was it bread? Was it blood? How could it be bread yet God? Doesn’t that defy physics? Does it matter? What did everyone around me believe?

And yet. I could not deny that there was something - something - Real and Present with me in the ritual. I used to think that what made Communion special was the community, gathered to commemorate together the Lord’s sacrifice.  I’ve participated in some beautiful rituals – con-celebrating the blessing of the elements, (the setting from the Iona Community is particularly wonderful), distributing the elements, singing the common songs (One Bread, One Body… Let Us Break Bread Together), celebrating World Communion Sunday with breads from many nations. Amazing, wonderful rituals.

And yet. In my heart, deep within my soul, I yearned for something more.  I learned in time that it is a combination of the gathered community and the Real Presence of Christ in our Eucharist that is the more I sought. It is knowing that our Eucharistic feast is merely a prelude for our experience of the Eucharist in the world.  At Mass, we experience the Real Presence of Christ; outside of Mass, we are Eucharist for the world. We aren’t merely bringing Christ to the world, we ARE the Presence of Christ to everyone we meet. We are holy and living sacrifices.  We are the bread, we are the cup, we are what brings nourishment and refreshment to the world. We are the instrument of grace to people around us, even as our commemoration of the Eucharist is a means of bringing grace to us. We are, literally and figuratively, the Body of Christ.

We sing a song at my church that begins with the Agnus Dei and transitions to a beautiful prayer about communion.  It is called “Lamb of God/Taste and See,” composed by Tom Kendzia. I often find myself humming it after Mass, sometimes through the week. It is a reminder to me to give thanks at all times, that God is Real and Present with me and with all those around me.

Taste and see the goodness of the Lord,
oh taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Let the lowly hear and be glad, let us glorify his name,
together let us praise God’s name.

Glorify the Lord with me, together let us praise his name;
from my fears God has set me free.

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Tagged as: communion, corpus christi, eucharist, regina heater, saints and feasts, transubstantiation