Do this in remembrance of Me

The Church in Corinth

As we enter into the Triduum of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, culminating in the Great Vigil, we as a Church are called to reflect not only on Christ’s Passion, Death, and Resurrection, but our own journey of faith. The Paschal Mystery is our story of conversion—purgation of our sinfulness, accepting God as our Father, turning our lives over to Him, abandoning old ways, and, in recognition of the One who Saves, a rising to new life in Christ, guided by the love which flows between Father and Son—the Holy Spirit. We do all of this within a community of believers—the Church—who calls us to account and walks with us on the Way.

I had the privilege of going on a pilgrimage in the Footsteps of St. Paul. Amazed at the fortitude and courage of the Apostle, I couldn’t help but think, “What would Paul say of today’s world?”

Standing in the rubble of Ephesus, now seated in Turkey, which is over 98% Muslim, I wondered, “Who are the voices proclaiming His Word today?" Not a single Christian church operates in Turkey, although there were a couple hundred-house churches, according to our guide. Has the Spirit died? No--there is hope, for we stood clinging to our Bibles as witnesses of that hope. The same Spirit that was enkindled in St. Paul burns in us today.

The great Evangelist entered into communities where Christ was not known and told of His Love and Mercy, won through the Victory of the Cross. Roman and Greek citizens, believers in polytheism, were intrigued by Paul’s zeal and great witness of this Person of Jesus Christ, on whose life the Evangelist’s centered. While not always warmly received (in fact, he was often beaten, imprisoned, and run out of town), nothing could deter Paul from His Mission!

In Corinth we stood at the ruins of the first Church, where the priest read the words of Jesus as recounted in 1Corinthians. We hear this same reading today, on the day we remember the institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper. The Scripture is far from a recalling of a historical event, however, as we also celebrate the Eucharist as one with Christ and His Church (Triumphant, Suffering, and Pilgrim), receiving Him Body, Mind, Soul, and Divinity, just as the Apostles did who gathered around the Table in the Upper Room.

St. Augustine, in reflecting on the Last Supper and Jesus’ crucifixion, writes:

"Christ held Himself in His hands when He gave His Body to His disciples saying: 'This is My Body.' No one partakes of this Flesh before he has adored it."

 And

"Recognize in this bread what hung on the cross, and in this chalice what flowed from His side... whatever was in many and varied ways announced beforehand in the sacrifices of the Old Testament pertains to this one sacrifice which is revealed in the New Testament."

Powerful, isn't it?

As we gather as a people of faith in this holiest time in our Church, let us ask ourselves how we adore the Lord not only in the Eucharist, but also in all those who receive Him. This propels us to ask,  how are we love to others? How do we receive Christ’s love in return? That is the glory of Easter—not only the Victory over the grave in the gift of Eternal Life, but the recognition that Christ lives in each and every one who receives Him and desires to dwell in all who have been made in the image and likeness of God. This mission was born on the Cross, enflamed at Pentecost with the reception of the Holy Spirit, and given to us, is renewed each day with our ‘yes’ to be disciples of the One who loves us so! Let the flame of the Holy Spirit burn brightly within us as we courageously go forth, following in the footsteps of St. Paul!