There’s really nothing more Catholic. It’s a s Catholic as we can become. The Eucharist defines our religious lives second to none. Some who don’t believe or understand the stunning significance and the true presence will call it by names that are not worth repeating here. foolish names that signify foolish ways. So be it!
But for us Catholics, the Body and Blood of Christ defines us as true partakers of the words of our Lord. The Apostles performed the rites and spoke the words that transformed the bread and wine into Him. Into a Divine Person. They did this back in the 1st century, understanding exactly what he meant, since they were there. We continue today this most excellent tradition.
What the Gospel story from Mark, as well as Exodus and Hebrews enlightens us with this week is that when it comes to the Eucharist, we too have work to do. The gift that tells us he is with us until the end of the age doesn’t fall from the sky like magic; and it doesn’t knock on our front door like a couple of Jehovah’s Witnesses. We all have, prior to receiving, work of preparation.
In the Gospel Jesus sends 2 Disciples into the city, not to purchase some already made food in a market, but to prepare a guestroom for the Living Bread that will be given to them by Christ Himself. But they need to prepare the guestroom first, and make it as perfect as they possibly can; with seats, tables, some plates and cups, some bread and wine. There’s a lot of preparation before they all receive Him who is Lord. And therein lies the simple message for Corpus Christi.
Receiving the Eucharist is not simply automatic, and it’s never meant to be. It isn’t just something we do because everyone else is coming forward. Doing my best to not judge with sin, I see this at funerals and weddings; coming forward because… “Hey I don’t want to be left behind!” A person’s disposition when receiving the Lord speaks volumes. The volumes to be spoken are preparation with a good heart and conscience, knowing we are all sinners not worthy of receiving our Lord who makes us worthy through his grace. But at those types of Masses 9Weddings and Funerals) I many times see little or no preparation by way of disposition or response. I’ve said, “The Body of Christ,” and the response has come back, “Thank you.” When I hear that, am I supposed to say, “You’re welcome,” or any Minister of the Eucharist? How about, “Have a good day?”
99% of the time, I’m not critical of people who are polite. And “Thank you” is a polite response to most any saying or action. But not with the Eucharist. The response is “Amen.” Why Amen? Because, “Amen” means “I believe.” The Eucharist is so mysterious, so profound, and so serious, that the response “Amen” means, “I believe all the teachings of my Catholic faith, both doctrine and morals.” That’s the response we give when we receive Communion. We’re not robots who simply say “Amen.” There’s the entire belief of our Catholic faith behind that one word in that holy moment. I exaggerate not.
My point here, as Jesus shows in the Gospel is that there is preparation for reception of this greatest gift. THE number one greatest gift that Catholics receive at no cost. My further point is not to remove anyone from the Communion line for reception of the Lord, but the point that Jesus makes the sacrifice at Calvary, and we have work to perform in order to receive his gift in the Upper Room. And that our reception of the Eucharist is not an automatic exercise.
What is the preparation for us? How do we prepare the guestroom of our souls so that when we say “Amen,” we understand what we say? The first and best preparation for our guestroom for Christ is an examination of conscience. Not to ask ourselves if we are worthy. As I already said, God makes us worthy to receive his Son strictly out of his love for us. But rather an examination of conscience that knows the goodness and cleanliness of our actions and words. Mortal sin means no reception of the Eucharist. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is needed first.
A second preparation is a devoted prayer life. Not having a devoted prayer life is not a reason to stay away from saying “Amen.” But maintaining a devoted prayer life allows the guestroom of our souls to be in a much more solid disposition for receiving our Lord.
And a third disposition is this question that the Holy Spirit planted in my brain, “Do I love my Catholic faith?” Not the one that I create according to my own whims, but the faith that Mother Church preserves and passes on from one generation to the next. Again, it’s not a disqualifier from receiving the Eucharist if I struggle with some aspect of my faith. But more the question, “Am I growing deeper in love with my Catholic faith as I age?”
Jesus tells them, “Go prepare a guestroom for what I’m about to give you at no cost.” As they prepared tables, chairs, dinnerware and food, we on the other hand prepare our souls and bodies for the very same gift they received in the Upper Room. Our celebration today of Corpus Christi is for the Mother of all gifts in the Church, the Body and Blood of Christ, and that each week we have spiritual work to do in preparation for our reception with the response “Amen.”