Introduction: The life of any seminarian consists of continuous consumption of new reading material, reflecting and writing. That regular pattern has taken away considerable amounts of "free time" which I might otherwise use to blog. Thus, to maintain some form of connection to those of you who share a concern in my journey, I've decided to post a few of the reflections submitted to the professors.
Today is the second of two postings from my liturgics class.
In her book The Eucharist and the Hunger of the World (Sheed and Ward, 1992) Monika K. Hellwig raises important questions about the message communicated to 20th (and now 21st) Century Christians. First of all, she identifies a chasm between the rich and the poor of the world. She posits that neither the affluent, nor the oppressed can be satisfied spiritually through the Eucharist. The rich can’t appreciate being fed spiritually until they have first truly experienced hunger, and the starving of the world cannot hear the message of hope that comes with the Eucharist until they are given the satisfaction of a full belly. Almost as an aside she laments the loss of the Roman Catholic tradition of days of fasting which came with the Liturgical Renewal Movement. In truth, I suspect that the movement away from the observance of days of fasts, was well on its way out the door well before Vatican II.
What struck me once again is how deeply entrenched the idea of communion being only an individual experience for American Christians. I can see now how I failed in the rural context in which I served, to broaden the understanding of the common re-bonding which occurs through communing. Although we used the expression of ‘remembering’ and placed emphasis on it as ‘re-membering’ , I don’t think I had it sufficiently worked out for myself to provide an explanation for the members of my charge. Now I would start by speaking of the Eucharist as a common meal for the common good, a strengthening of the Corpus Christi, established within each member through baptism. I would continue by explaining that regular communion is much more than a reception of forgiveness for failures committed. In frequent reception of the bread and cup we take on the presence of Christ to be in solidarity with the oppressed, the sorrowful, and to seek out the lost children of God. Through Eucharist we are empowered to take up the mantle of the great commission.
I appreciate deeply your reflections, especially, "In frequent reception of the bread and cup we take on the presence of Christ to be in solidarity with the oppressed, the sorrowful, and to seek out the lost children of God. Through Eucharist we are empowered to take up the mantle of the great commission." Your statement is rich because of the profound focus and point! It is one of meaning attached completely to the aim of Christ in the Word.
ReplyDeleteIt has been my personal experience that the attitude towards communion has been politicized by some, and quite obviously by those who refuse Holy Communion to those "outsiders" who think differently and are of other faith traditions. This refusal seems to ignore, almost profanely, the sacramental value of communion. "...Eucharist...a common meal for the common good, a strengthening of the Corpus Christi..."
Deana