Word to the Wise
Sunday, June 14, 2020 - Sunday after Trinity Sunday: The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (formerly called Corpus Christi"") - A"
[Deut 8:2-3, 14b-16a; 1 Cor 10:16-17; John 6:51-58]The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? [1 Cor.] "I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world......This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever." [John]
It is not easy to find good in the midst of a disaster. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has certainly called attention to the importance of the Body and Blood of Christ as celebrated in the Eucharist. The pandemic has done this simply by making it more difficult to have this celebration!!! But the difficulty has given rise to some very creative ways of celebrating the sacraments. The internet has revealed the blessing of "livestream" Masses with "drive by" communion afterward in the church parking lot. Who would ever have thought that place of frustration on Sundays would turn out to be holy ground? Wedding and funeral celebrations are being reconfigured to small ceremonies with limited attendance, to be followed by bigger First Anniversary or Memorial celebrations once the pandemic has subsided!
The feast of Corpus Christi has traditionally been celebrated by a procession with the Blessed Sacrament, pausing at three "stations" to celebrate benediction. This will not be possible in the pandemic. Communion under both kinds is out of the question. There is no "Sign of Peace." Where in-person attendance is now possible, it is limited with masks being worn and physical distancing observed. (I hate the world "social" distancing, as if we can't even talk to one another!) What is happening is that we are getting back to a very basic form of communion, as St. Paul speaks about in the second scripture. We are all in this together. We also realize how much our spiritual life can depend on reception of the Body and Blood of Christ, even if it's through a car window!!! The "bread from heaven" can come to us in a parking lot as well as in a cathedral. If nothing else, the pandemic is teaching us the basics of our faith in the Body and Blood of Christ. When Jesus says, "Do this in memory of me!" we will certainly consider this year's celebration as memorable in more than one way! AMEN