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Daily Scripture

+ 5th Week in Ordinary Time

It still has meaning.

1 Kings 8:1-7, 9-13 Psalm 132:6-7, 8-10 Mark 6:53-56

The priests brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place beneath the wings of the cherubim in the sanctuary, the holy of holies of the temple. There was nothing in the ark but the two stone tablets which Moses had put there at Horeb, when the Lord made a covenant with the children of Israel. [1 Kings 8:6, 8]
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In recent years there has been much discussion in liturgical circles about the proper location of the tabernacle in the worship space. The directives implementing the Constitution on the Liturgy by the Second Vatican Council prescribed that the tabernacle be located in prominent location in the church or chapel, preferably in a chapel dedicated to the reservation of the Blessed Sacrament and appropriate for veneration. In any case, it was not to be located on the altar table used for the celebration of the Eucharist. As a result in many churches renovations, the tabernacle was moved to the ‘side altar’ previously used for the veneration of the Blessed Virgin or St. Joseph and in some churches, it was placed on the old altar previously used for Mass. In situations the old altar was replaced with a permanent pedestal on which the tabernacle was placed.

In liturgical matters, nothing is simple. Those of a more conservative disposition insisted that the location of the Tabernacle on the side altar reduced the status of the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist thereby diminishing its meaning in the devotional life of the faithful. Others of a more liberal persuasion opined that in fact, the location in a separate chapel within the church assigned to the sacrament greater prominence thereby increasing the devotional aspect. Moreover, in as much as an emphasis of the ‘action’ of the Mass as the repetition of the “Lord’s Supper” was promoted by the Council, it seemed to liturgists that the location of the tabernacle in the main sanctuary behind the free standing Eucharist table would compete with the ‘action’ of the Mass as a sacred meal.

The most recent prescriptions in the United States provide that the tabernacle be located in the main sanctuary on suitably ornate pedestal. It is ironic that in the major basilicas including the basilica of St. Peter in Rome, the tabernacle is located on a side altar that is not very prominent.

Whatever the location, it should not be a bone of contention worthy of a liturgical battle. The public and private devotion to the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist is rooted in the long tradition of the Church and should not be disparaged. In the same way in which the tablets of stone on which the Ten Commandments was symbolic of God’s presence in the temple, so too, the reservation of the Eucharist Bread has been one of the longest-standing practices of the devotional life of Catholics. It is intended to extend the meaning and the effects of the Eucharistic celebration into the life of the faithful who continue to spend time in prayerful meditation on the mysteries of the life of Jesus not the least of which is his faithfulness unto death on the cross for the salvation of the world. The two aspects of Eucharist need not be in competition. The ‘Mass’ continues to be considered a “sacrificial” meal. But we need to be clear that its connection with the passion and death of Christ even as the lamb of God is not to suggest that his death was mandated to satisfy and angry God. That in my opinion is not an appropriate application of Old Testament sacrifices. No, Jesus sacrificial death was the completion of his entire sacrificial life of unqualified and indiscriminate love in the same way as the sacrificial love of partners in marriage offer their sacrificial love to one another or in the manner that Mother Teresa offered her live in sacrificial service to victims of poverty in the streets of Calctta. It is in this sense that devotion to the Eucharist in the tabernacle takes its extended meaning.

During the celebration of the Eucharist, we become what we eat. Through our devotion to the Eucharist reserved in the tabernacle, we are reminded that the Eucharistic presence in our mind, heart and soul extends into all the good works of our lives with the hope that we too will always think and act with the same sacrificial love as did Jesus in his earthly life.

Second Sunday of Easter 'C'

Sunday April 11, 2010

True Religion

It is astounding that despite the passing of time and the repetition of the texts describing the first Easter, new insights continue to emerge from a careful reading of these biblical accounts.

I expect this is no different from the experience of listening to family stories over and over again. Haven’t you heard someone say, “I’ve heard that story a hundred times but this is the first time I got the point?”

During this season many Christians, Catholics among them, continue to listen to the Resurrection story as they search for Jesus in the empty tombs around the world; searching not for a dead body but for the risen Christ. No, they are not literally heading for an empty tomb but they are looking for the assurance that Jesus’ resurrection was not a hoax; exploring a mystery that defies human explanation.

The Easter ‘event’ is not about the resuscitation of Jesus but about his new identity in the community of believers. Commenting on the appearance of Jesus “through locked doors,” one biblical scholar, Richard Cassidy, put it this way: “In his new identity, Jesus is no longer subject to the constraints of time and space.” Indeed!

Through a wide use of metaphors the evangelists attempted to convince their readers and us of the reality of Jesus’ real presence in the emerging faith and witness of early believers. Please note that the term ‘witness’ does not necessarily mean ‘eye witness.’ It refers as much to those who experienced in faith, the crucified but living Christ and who could not help show it in their words and deeds. “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

The graphic description by John the Evangelist of Thomas’ doubt and instant conversion is another dramatic attempt to connect the crucified Jesus to the risen Christ, not an attempt to establish proof for his resuscitation. This is a very subtle but important distinction. Notice that it was not putting his hand into Jesus’ hands and side but Jesus’ words that cast away Thomas’ doubt.

As member s of this faith community we are called to be animators of the word of God. Do we empower people to goodness or better, to ‘Godness?’ For whom or for what are we ready to die? Or rather I should ask, for whom or for what are we willing to live?

As Christians of the twenty-first century, I think we need to speak about the “Good News” that Jesus came to proclaim, using words only when necessary, but I also think we need to recognize the bad news in the light of the Good News too.

And so as we remain faithful to the tradition, we challenge our institution. Our Church is being called to reform at its highest levels of leadership and they need to listen to the ‘Voice of the Faithful’ and they need to listen to the prophets inside and outside the Church institution. I think of Bishop Tom Gumbleton who was never called to lead a diocese because of his outspokenness about integrity within his ranks. I think of Nelson Mandella who spent over 25 years in prison for his faith. I think of the Dali Lama whose impact on people of every tradition through the years remains firm. And I think of so many of you in the pew who live your life in faithfulness to Jesus despite your temptation to seek an easier path outside the walls.

And so the way we go about our ‘hands-on’ witness is itself a witness. Fighting hate speech with hate speech never works. Vindictive bashing of political, economic or ecclesiastical leadership cannot be the venue of a true Christian but we are not excused from holding all of them accountable. Jesus engaged his listeners in an effort to touch their hearts rather than crush their spirits. “In you, O Lord, justice and mercy meet.”

Living Christianity in any age has never been and will never be a piece of cake and there are no cheap graces. Every day brings new opportunities to be instruments of God’s saving grace to others and we don’t have to wear our religion on our sleeve to give witness to what we believe.

In the words of Richard Rohr, “Who are the people of every place and time who have discovered this deeper meaning of faith in the midst of darkness? Almost without exception, they are those who have suffered much or loved deeply. Those two experiences are the common crossover points, the rings of fire, and because lover and suffering are available to all, the eyes of truth faith are available to all.” [The Naked Now, Richard Rhor, Croosroad Publishers, NY, 2009]

And that’s what true religion is all about and that is what keeps us faithful to the tradition while challenging the institution to be what Jesus calls it to be – a community of true faith.