Last Saturday morning our TEC team was gathered and preparing for the arrival of our retreat candidates. We gathered that morning to celebrate Mass and join in the magnificent wedding feast. It was during the liturgy of the Eucharist that I was struck at just how amazing the miracle before us was. I love the Eucharist and its total awesomeness and usually can comprehend- as well as anybody is able to- the miracle that happens during the Mass, but on this day I was in the old Our Lady of Consolation Shrine church, which is across the street from the Basilica and Pilgrim House. Inside the old, plain church there was only about 15 people- including our priest- gathered. We probably could have comfortably sat in three pews, but we were spaced out in four pews. It felt like the church was empty, even though 15 people is probably an average number for weekday Mass.
In case you’ve never had the opportunity to step inside the old shrine, it’s very plain. Bare white walls with only crosses representing the Stations of the Cross, simply decorated stained glass windows, but the area for the tabernacle is a fine example of great craftsmanship and woodcarvings, however the alter is small and plain too. No great carvings on it, no high polishing- just a plain, simple, dark wooded alter, yet upon this alter is where one of the greatest gifts God could give us occurs. Remind you of something? Maybe of God becoming fully human and laid in a plain wooden manger? Well, it is on this plain wooden alter that bread- “that the earth has given and human hands have made”- became the flesh of Christ. 2,000 years ago He gave Himself fully to us. 2,000 years later, He still gives Himself to us every day and sacrifices Himself every day for us.
It was difficult to imagine angels of the Heavenly host taking the gifts upon the alter that was in front of us to the alter in Heaven. It was difficult to imagine the saints and angels in all their splendor surrounding the plain alter in a pretty plain church, yet Heaven was still bowing down to kiss earth, and the angels were still rejoicing with us. There is quote that I’ve had hanging on my wall these two years of college, by St. Maximillian Kolbe, “If angels could be jealous of men, they would be for one reason: Holy Communion.” The angels have never consumed the Body of Christ, yet they follow him more faithfully. We are given the opportunity to consume his body and blood at least once a week, yet how well do we follow him?
It was in this small, almost empty, and unfancy church that 15 people gathered to offer ourselves with all our brokenness, sin, and shortcomings that God still made Himself present to us in the Blessed Sacrement. 2,000 years ago He thought that we sinful creatures were important enough that He sent Christ as a sacrifice to die for us. 2,000 years later He continues to value us so much that He still presents Himself to us. How could we not rejoice? How could we not celebrate the wedding feast that we take part in during the Mass? That’s truly what it is. The Eucharist is the wedding feast of the Bridegroom (Christ) and His Bride (the Church) being made one, or at least that’s how Scott Hahn puts it. If Heaven is truly bowing down to kiss earth in that moment, and heaven is outside of this world and time, then we are sitting down to a moment in “time” when everyone who has ever partaken in this miracle is celebrating it at the same moment. It is a moment when the Bride is whole and is one body, fully and amazingly united with her glorious, saving, healing, and loving Groom.
Are we returning His kiss?
Love and warm wishes.
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