“I Gave My Flesh for The Life Of The World” by
Beth DeCristofaro
Then Philip opened his mouth and, beginning
with this Scripture passage; he proclaimed Jesus to him. As they traveled along
the road, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look, there is water. What
is to prevent my being baptized?” Then he ordered the chariot to stop, and
Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water, and he baptized him.
(Acts 8:36-38)
I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate
the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from
heaven so that one may eat it and not die. I am the living bread that came down
from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; the bread that I will give is my Flesh for the life of the world.”
(John 6:48-51)
Piety
Loving Father, I did not know you, but I was
yours. And they do not know me, and I do
not know them, but they are mine, and I am theirs.
Let no chasm, no river, no drought or storm,
no war, no exodus, no border, natural or constructed, no device of man nor
devil come between us or halt the love that burns within me, the grace that
flows from you.
Let me think on no man unless I think joyful
thoughts of brotherhood.
Let me think on no woman unless I think
tender thoughts of sisterhood.
Friend and stranger, ally and enemy,
brothers, sisters: They are mine. And I
am theirs because we are yours. (Catholic Relief Services)
Study
“Pieces of April” is a movie based around
Thanksgiving. It is a surprisingly
touching, although irreverent, look at the family from the vantage point of a
“black sheep” daughter. April, who
gladly lives away from her family, invites them to Thanksgiving dinner in her
cramped, rundown apartment when she learns of her mother’s cancer
diagnosis. She is not a cook, not a team
player, not even a dutiful daughter, but hilarity, reconnection, and ultimately
love ensues as she finds herself forced to ask for help from neighbors and even
her own family.
The movie comes to mind as Jesus explains the
gift he gives of himself. Using such humble elements as bread and wine, he
lifts them above nourishment and hospitality. Jesus elevates them to the
mystery of Eucharist, visible, and tangible presence of himself. And the meal becomes more than human need or
enjoyment with friends but a sign of Church, Body of Himself, the community of
believers. As we are invited and share
in the living bread, we go forth from the Eucharist to share our belief in
Jesus, Flesh for the life of the world.
April’s divided family comes together in a messy, incomplete way but
reunion and new life. Christians
individually share the mystery and the community, even with those who do not
believe, cannot understand and reconciliation, unity, love prevail with our
small, apartment-sized worlds.
Action
The Eunuch in Acts asked, “Look, there is water. What
is to prevent my being baptized?” What stops us from taking the mystery of
the Eucharist out into the world with us as if we still sit at the table with
our Lord? Ask for the grace to enter
deeper into this mystery, which is unbounded by the lack of physical attendance
at Mass. How might we share the plenty
of Jesus’ table with the life of the world?
Illustration: The Allegory of the Long Spoons by Sofo
Archon, https://denitsarp.wordpress.com/2016/05/30/irvin-yalom-on-group-psychotherapy/
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