At Mass yesterday, the Communion Song was We Remember We Believe. The most powerful verse for me was the final one:
As we take and eat, so we learn to give. Like the bread, we must break; like wine, be poured so that all may live.
Two short sentences, but an important reminder that our receipt of the Eucharist is not a passive act. We don’t go to Mass each week and receive the Eucharist so we can sit back and be content that we are filled with Jesus.
We eat and drink the Body and Blood of Christ, not so we can simply sit in bliss with Jesus, but to strengthen us to go out and be as Jesus in the world. And that is not simple task. It requires that we give of ourselves – that we be wiling to be broken, willing to be poured out for the life of the world.
Jesus is not interested in spectators. He is not interested in those content to simply give lip service to believe in him. Rather, he asks – no demands – that we be willing to give as he gave. To be broken as he was broken. To be poured out as he was.
Creo en Dios! 
At Mass yesterday, the Communion Song was We Remember We Believe. The most powerful verse for me was the final one:
As we take and eat, so we learn to give. Like the bread, we must break; like wine, be poured so that all may live.
Two short sentences, but an important reminder that our receipt of the Eucharist is not a passive act. We don’t go to Mass each week and receive the Eucharist so we can sit back and be content that we are filled with Jesus.
We eat and drink the Body and Blood of Christ, not so we can simply sit in bliss with Jesus *(some are so called to sit in ‘Bliss’ until they are ‘Called’), but to strengthen us to go out and be *(each In our own way – according to the ‘Gifts’ we have been given, we continue to receive and are requested we nurture) as Jesus in the world. And that is not simple task. It requires that we give of ourselves – that we be wiling to be broken, willing to be poured out for the life of the world.
Jesus is not interested in spectators *(‘Spectators’ are also His creation and most necessary as the ‘Noise and Chaos’ would be unbearable if we constantly ‘Talked-Over’ each other. Without seeing, listening and hearing a ‘Message’ – His ‘Message’ – would seldom be experienced). He is not interested *(Of course God is interested) in those content to simply give lip service *(Who is to judge what and what is not ‘lip service’?) to believe in him. Rather, he asks – no demands *[A wonderful ‘Message’ spoiled – Hearts are closed and minds often filled with despair (increased despair) when the ‘Message’ heard is taken as ‘One Size fits All’ ] – that we be willing to give as he gave. To be broken as he was broken. To be poured out as he was.
*In the reality of our “Harsh World’ the perception of further ‘exclusion’ often continues to smother any ‘pearl’ of inclusion. and acceptance
God’s perfect Love is ‘Cold’ – Perfected in Heaven where all is perfection – all is completed. It is during our very short existence on earth that we are called to ‘Hard Labor’ – to respond to His command: ‘Love each other as I have loved you’ – to respond in Love’s ‘Warmth’ that can only be experienced on earth.
Our minds, that all to often ‘edit’ our heart’s desire and ability to love ‘warmly’ and completely while on earth, are most responsible for the walls and barriers we ‘erect’ to protect that which so often ‘separates’ instead.
Our perception that we do not often enough ‘fit nicely’ into humankind’s and Religion’s inclusionary categories is the cruelest of all our perceived realities – often becoming our ‘Truths’ that our mind holds fast – not allowing our heart to expereince the burning love (warmth) that is part of our earthly inheritance given at birth.
Only on earth are we ‘Called’ – Called to be on ‘Fire for Jesus’ – for God. For once in Heaven, our ‘Hard Labor’ is done, completed and our desire’s passions – for good or evil – will no longer burn within. It is now we are ‘Called’ – Called to come together as brothers and sisters, to be the inclusive ‘Body of Christ’ – most difficult when the ‘Prize’ and the ‘Message’ received are not as inclusive.
‘One Size’ does not fit All, and God’s timeline and His plan is seldom ours. The ‘Fire of His Love’ burns only now sustaining us while on this journey – need we dare continue smothering His Love?
For in Heaven all is completed – And God’s perfect Love is ‘Cold’. . .
In one of his sermons (its somewhere in the #70s), St Augustine teaches his catechumens about the Eucharist: “Be what you see. See what you are — Body of Christ.” Confirms our Baptism into Christ’s body as well. But in so much pious church-speak these days a neo-Platanist dualism often subverts the intended power of God’s grace and leaves us in the disembodied ozone. Put more explicitly by Christian Wiman in My Bright Abyss: “…get off your mystified ass and do something.” (p82 Kindle edition). Body of Christ! AMEN.