To be sure, the teachings of Jesus can be hard to reconcile with, A disciple is called to true selflessness and a life totally committed to the Father in heaven. We are called to be holy, that is a lifestyle that is counter-cultural in word and in deed. We see this in John's Gospel more than in the Synoptics, but our life is communal. Our relationships, and everything else, has a communal dimension to them. So we are a living witness to that larger body.
So when we say 'Amen' at communion, receiving the Eucharist, we are not just responding to the consecrated elements, but to a life that hears and follows Spirit and Life. It is a committed lifestyle that centers itself on the foundational teachings of the Gospel, as well as the Paschal Mystery. The Eucharist becomes a source of strength for us, and a challenge to us to live faithfully.
We all cringe at St. Paul's words today when he tells women to be subordinate to their husbands. And we can get stuck there, but need to move on whereas he tells husbands to love their wives as Christ did the Church, as he died on the cross. The Christian life is marked by a love of mutuality and selflessness. So all of the moments of our life are lived as a proclamation of the mystery of faith. We are challenged to make a faith response as to what we see and experience in Jesus as the Bread of Life.
We have a long tradition of faithful men and women who said 'Yes' or 'Amen' to God. The Eucharist was their strength and courage. Some of these people are called 'Saints,' while others are family, friends, or people we just heard about. With all this testimony, and the blessings we have received, how can we not believe.
No comments:
Post a Comment