One Body

The Scriptures this weekend provide an opportunity to reflect upon the real Presence of Christ in the Eucharistic banquet. As we hear that the Body of Christ is real food and His Blood is real drink we might give more attention to the manner in we receive this precious gift. We process together as members of the One Body to receive “our own mystery” as St. Augustine teaches. We become what we eat, the Body of Christ gathered around the altar on which rests the Body of Christ. This is not an act of private piety or faith, but communion with Christ and one another. Church law directs that we all have the same posture for receiving communion. In the United States that posture is to stand and to bow one’s head before receiving communion. Our standing recalls the Passover meal, which prefigures the Eucharist and of which the Eucharist is the fulfillment and the New Passover. Just as the Passover was food for the journey from slavery to freedom and the Promised Land, so too the Eucharist is the food for our journey through life to the Kingdom of God. Our attentiveness to what we are doing and why is the ground for our reverence. Kneeling at the communion rail or genuflecting is not permitted. An individual is not to be denied communion if he or she kneels, but such a person is to be instructed to follow the action of the Body of Christ. It is very important that we process with awareness and reverence and act not as individuals but as members of one Body. The Bishop’s recent instructions included this point. In the coming weeks other points of that instruction will be presented here.