John Desing csc
Readings: Acts 4:1-12; Jn 21:1-14
What does it mean for us when we profess that we believe in ‘Christ’s Resurrection’? The catechism of the catholic church (995) states that to be a witness to Christ is to be a “witness to his Resurrection”. This is possible only when we have the faith of the beloved disciple who exclaimed “It is the Lord” after having encountered the risen Lord in the breaking of the bread. Christ suffered, died, and rose again for us so that we have a share in his kingdom. Each time we die to our sinful ways we experience new life in Christ.
Therefore, resurrection is possible even here and now. The first reading tells us that the Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection of Christ and the disciples doubted the resurrection. Not to believe is to completely reject the truth that Christ is the Messiah and the Saviour.
The resurrection narratives teach us that the disciples did not remain only at the level of doubt, but progress from doubt to faith. At times our spiritual journey to encounter the resurrected Christ more and more could be blurry and uncertain. But like the disciple, doubts should make us search for the truth. For us, the Eucharistic celebration is a daily concrete encounter with Christ.
As the source and summit of the Christian life, it should enable us to be courageous witnesses of Christ just as Peter and John proclaimed the message of the resurrected Christ to the scribes and Sadducees who strongly opposed Christ’s message.
We are told that during the Eucharist ceremony the bread and wine turn into the real flesh and blood of Jesus. I wonder from where this idea came to be as I was not able to trace any such teaching from within the Bible. It was in chapter 6 in the book of John that Jesus began talking about “eat my body and drink my blood “. Eating of both of which were anathema to the Jewish community as these things were prohibited for human consumption. The people who had gathered around Jesus had left him hearing this strange instructions from Jesus. Even his disciples began murmuring among themselves. Then Jesus asked them, “do you also want to leave? Whereupon Jesus began to explain (the meaning of what he said). He said, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.’” I am of the opinion that this verse has not received the attention that it deserves which is that Eucharist ceremony should be all about experiencing Jesus spiritually and be guided by his teachings in everything a follower does in his/her life. I believe that perhaps it is appropriate for the church to take a fresh look at the concept of Eucharistic ceremony. May I suggest that the priest is to pray over the piece of bread to God to turn it into the bread that Jesus gave his disciples and when serving the congregation the priest to say, “The bread of Jesus”.