Body and Blood of Christ
June 26, 2011

Close to You
by Tom Cox

We are just one year away from the forthcoming Eucharistic Congress in
Dublin 2012 with the theme "The Eucharist: Communion with Christ and
with one Another."

"Communion" speaks of closeness. Being close to Christ is not a prize
He challenges us to earn. It is a gift He invites us to accept.  In
many parts of the world we became very good at seeing Jesus as someone
"produced" at the consecration of the Mass, as a "prisoner of love
waiting for us in the tabernacle." All very valid points but there's
an implicit danger we downplay his presence in the Word of God and in
the people gathered.  It is far harder to see the Christ present in
that annoying family member or neighbour than it is in a piece of
unleavened bread in a way. Were someone to take a sacred host and
stamp on it deliberately Christians would be shocked at this
disrespect. Isn't the desecration of the human person through power,
exploitation, physical or psychological cruelty an even greater
desecration of what is often called the "real presence."

One priest put it briefly: "the only thing I have to do in this life
is to get to heaven and to take as many people with me as I can!" It's
a simple formula but a good description of what Jesus maps out for us
at the Last Supper. Here he gives us important marching orders in
telling us to love one another as well as "Do this in memory of me." A
persons'  last words are very important to a family. People come for
the reading of their last Will and Testament anxious to carry out the
last instructions of the deceased. We have received the great treasure
of our faith from those who have gone before us. He asks us to love
each other. It's as simple and as hard as that.

Our second reading begins with the call to remember. Not just at the
Congress the challenge, as ever, is to closeness and communion with
Him and with one another.

Even when I doubt my own worth. :Lord you make me worthy
Even when I stray from the path of goodness :Lord you make me worthy
Even when I allow others put me down :Lord you make me worthy
Even when I lose faith in you : Lord you make me worthy
Even when I give in to despair : Lord you make me worthy
Even when I am obsessed my own faults : Lord you make me worthy [1]

[1] (Reflection from website of the Dublin Eucharistic Congress at www.iec2012.ie).

(Comments to Tom at tomascox@eircom.net )