Saturday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time
Today’s readings offer some sharp words from both Jesus and Paul, which are focused on the link between participation in liturgy and the rest of our lives.
In the first reading, Paul exhorts the Corinthians to act as those who have received the Eucharist. They participate in the Eucharist, yet when they go to have dinner, they also participate in pagan sacrifices by eating the meat of the sacrificial animal, which was often sold in the market. Paul tries to get them to see that their participation in the Eucharist excludes any participation in other sacrifices because it is a participation in the one, true sacrifice of Christ on the cross. Paul tries to get them to see the contrast between their worship and their actions.
During the Eucharist we ask God to make us a “living sacrifice of praise,” modifying the words of today’s psalm (Ps 116:17): “Lord, look upon this sacrifice which you have given to your Church; and by your Holy Spirit, gather all who share this bread and wine into the one body of Christ, a living sacrifice of praise” (Eucharistic Prayer IV). As we participate in the Eucharist, we return to God in a sacrifice of thanksgiving (the word “Eucharist means “thanksgiving”) what God has given to us (bread and wine, but also our whole lives) and thus we are made into the Mystical Body of Christ.
The Eucharist begins to lay our “foundation on rock” that Jesus mentions in today’s gospel passage (Lk 6:48). We come to Jesus at the altar and we listen to God’s Word at Mass. But Jesus says that in order to complete the foundation, we must act upon what we’ve encountered in liturgy (Lk 6:47). It is not sufficient for us to come to Mass and to then consider ourselves “good trees” (Lk 6:43). The Body of Christ that is the Church is made to be Church by actions that build up the Body, that take care of the weakest, the poorest, the ignorant, the sick, the prisoner…etc. How do we know if we’ve built that foundation? Like the foundation of a house, ours is tested by winds and storms of life. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve been disappointed with myself when push comes to shove, when times get difficult. Failing in these circumstances means not only that we sinned in the moment, but that we were ill-prepared because there were weak spots in the foundation of discipleship that is constructed in our regular, day-to-day lives.
In preparation for the celebration of the Eucharist tomorrow, let us reflect on how that sacrifice makes us a living sacrifice to God. How is it that we build up the Body of Christ that is the Church? How do make an offering to God by our lives? To celebrate the Eucharist and leave our lives unchanged would be to proclaim Jesus “Lord” and not do what he commands (Lk 6:46).
- Tim Gabrielli