Feast of Corpus Christi

 


FEAST OF CORPUS CHRISTI


Last week we were focusing upon the Trinity. When we call our God a Trinitarian God, it’s another way of saying that God is love (1st John 4:16). He loves us so much that he can hardly contain himself. Rather than abide in Heaven, he ventures forth, taking a place within our world through the miracle of the Nativity. If this wasn’t enough, he ventures even further, inhabiting your soul through the miracle of the Eucharist. The love we acknowledged on Trinity Sunday becomes internalized as we shift our attention to the Feast of Corpus Christi. 


Consider the ritual we observe when we gather for the Mass. We commit to the practice of listening as the Liturgy of the Word unfolds. Then, as the Liturgy of the Word gives way to the Liturgy of the Eucharist, we literally “take in” the elements that have been consecrated. This represents a ritualized process through which the gift of divine love can actually be internalized. And it’s worth noting that the Lord himself establishes this ritual. Recall his words of instruction at the Last Supper: Do this in remembrance of me (see Luke 22:19). We participate in the Mass, not just for the sake of honoring the Lord’s command, but also for the sake of spiritual nourishment. It’s not simply about obedience; it’s more about feeding the soul. 


It’s possible, however, that you might come away feeling empty. You didn’t internalize anything profound; rather, it strikes you as merely a dry wafer of bread. You begin to sound like an old Wendy’s commercial: Where’s the beef? We attribute this line to an actress named Clara Peller. She’s clearly not impressed with what has been served to her. Is this supposed to fulfill her appetite? She’s disappointed. She’s looking for substance—apparently in vain. You can almost hear the prophet’s timeless entreaty: Why spend your wages on what fails to satisfy (see Isaiah 55:2)? 


Do you regard the Eucharist as a letdown? The Eucharist receives a lot of fanfare. It’s being advertised as something profound. But perhaps it hasn’t been profound for you. Like Clara Peller, you’re disappointed. The question is: should you be? In the case of Clara Peller, a deficient product has been placed before her. She is disgruntled, and with good cause. Meanwhile, ask yourself: Am I being presented with something deficient when I worship at the  Mass? 


You might be telling yourself: YES! That’s your position. But there are those who would take up the opposite position. St. Augustine would maintain that you really are receiving something profound when you get in line for Communion. The Lord’s real presence can be found within the Eucharist, according to John chapter six. You receive the Lord’s real presence when you step forward in the Communion procession. If the results seem to be lacking, this does not signify a deficiency within the Sacrament. You’re receiving the valid real presence. You’re receiving the Lord validly—even if not fruitfully. 


St. Augustine explains that the quality of your disposition determines whether or not the Sacrament is going to be received fruitfully. Are you burdened with unconfessed sin? Are you distracted? Are you “going through the motions” when you worship? Has prayer become an afterthought? In other words, maybe you’re not putting enough into it. Remember the old saying: you get out of it what you put into it. The Mass is something that needs to be engaged. If you sleep-walk through the Mass, then you’ll get nothing out of the Mass. On the other hand, when you engage the Mass, then you’ll be receiving not just validly but also fruitfully. Or to put it in Clara Peller terms: you won’t have to search for the beef. 

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