"Get Some Skin in the Game" by Jim Bayne

 

"Get Some Skin in the Game" by Jim Bayne

Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ by Jim Bayne

He therefore let you be afflicted with hunger, and then fed you with manna, a food unknown to you and your fathers, in order to show you that not by bread alone does one live, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of the LORD. (DT 8:3)

He has proclaimed his word to Jacob, his statutes and his ordinances to Israel.
He has not done thus for any other nation; his ordinances he has not made known to them. (Ps 147:19-20)

The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?
Because the loaf of bread is one, we, though many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf. (1 Cor 10:17)

Jesus said to the Jewish crowds: "I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world." (Jn 6:51)

Piety

Prayer for unity in the body of Christ

Help us, Lord, as we work together to build your kingdom.

Help us to be the light that leads the world to you.

God, may we be good role models to the people around us

so that when they see you and your love within us,

they would want to know you more and more.

God grant us the patience to work together,

bring us all together as a family.

Help us to work together

with understanding and compassion in our hearts. Amen

Study

It providential that at this particular time, the first reading today begins with the words, “He therefore let you be afflicted with hunger.”

Not only are we dealing with a hunger for food in large areas of the world, including our own country, we are also dealing with a hunger for justice and equality for our African American brothers and sisters.

This hunger stretches to people all around the globe who live in poverty and unjust social systems while being ignored by those of us who live privileged lives.

The commentary in the Universalis app on the reading from 2 Corinthians tells us that these conditions have been with us for a very long time. I could not say it any better:

Commentary

Paul, in writing to that difficult and divided community at Corinth, chides them for their disunity and selfishness. There were some rich members of the community, who got to the Eucharist early, took all the best places, and proceeded to unpack their hampers and feast, while the later comers – presumably the workers and slaves – justifiably felt excluded and remained hungry. In the strongest terms Paul insists that the Eucharist must be the symbol and expression of unity, and that those who prevent it being so are making themselves ‘answerable for the body and blood of the Lord’. Paul seems to use ‘the body of Christ’ interchangeably of both the Eucharistic bread and the Eucharistic body which is the community, united in the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. It is difficult to see when he means one, and when the other. He obviously regards them both as equally important and equally sacred. Later in the letter he will explain that the community is an organism, in which everyone has their own, individually special part to play, all living with the Spirit of Christ as the life-giving principle. Unless this life is truly shared it is distorted and fails of its purpose.

It is a well-known fact that the greatest hour of segregation in the U.S. comes on Sunday morning in our churches. That this continues is a result of housing policies enacted decades ago as well as by the disparities of opportunity in education, health care, and employment.

Have we reached a turning point where we as a society and we as Catholics are ready to start living in a new way? This new way is actually a very old way. Read Acts 2:42-47. What we have heard every day for the last two weeks is the lament “We just want to be treated as equals; nothing more.”

Action

As a church, our frequent response to evil is to offer Masses or to pray the rosary. We need to pray, but we also need to stand side by side with our brothers and sisters literally. During these past two weeks, we have seen white, black, and brown people protesting side by side around the country and the world.

We need to get to know one another and to hear one another’s stories. Who do you know that you could dialogue with? How can you love a God you cannot see if you cannot love the neighbor that you can see?

Last weekend I had the opportunity to join a Zoom session sponsored by V.O.I.C.E. – Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Endeavor. There were some 94 connections, mostly African American folks. It was a wonderful opportunity to listen. Is your parish a member of V.O.I.C.E? Only 4 of the Arlington Diocese’s 69 parishes are members. Encourage your pastor to join. Start a petition.

A friend suggested we make substantial donations to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. Because of my prison ministry, I could suggest Bryan Stevenson’s Equal Justice Initiative. There are many other ways to add your financial support in order to bring about change.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus says the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world."  Isn’t it time each one of us got some skin in the game? Isn’t it time we follow Jesus and give a little of our flesh for the life of the world? How can you help?